14 nations has been exempted and will wait for the second round of the qualifiers for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Egypt.
The 14 exempted teams have been split into two pots based on their ranking, with the seven highest-ranked nations placed in Pot 5 and the remaining seven in Pot 4.
Ghana joins fellow top-ranked sides Morocco, Mali, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Guinea in Pot 5.
Pot 4, meanwhile, comprises Niger, Algeria, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Zambia and Senegal.
Under the draw format, one team from Pot 4 will be paired with a winner from the first round, while a team from Pot 5 will also face another first-round winner.
The winners of those respective ties will then meet in the third round, with the process continuing until all 14 teams participating in the second round have been determined.
Ghana’s placement in Pot 5 means the Black Meteors will avoid the other six highest-ranked exempted teams at this stage, but they will face a first-round winner as they begin their quest to qualify for the 2027 U-23 AFCON.
The tournament will be hosted by Egypt, with Africa’s best young talents set to battle for continental honours and qualification opportunities linked to the Olympic Games.
The road to Egypt 2027 is gathering pace. 🇪🇬🏆
