Ghana has been placed in Pot 5, the highest-ranked pot, ahead of the second-round qualifying draw for the 2027 CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana is among seven highest-ranked teams exempted from the opening round of the qualifiers.
The country will share Pot 5 with Morocco, Mali, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Guinea.
The other seven exempted teams which include Niger, Algeria, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Zambia and Senegal, have been placed in Pot 4.
Under the qualifying format, teams in Pot 5 will be drawn against sides that advance from the first round. Winners of those ties will then progress to the third round, where they will face the winners of the corresponding Pot 4 ties.
Although Ghana has been exempted from the opening round, the national U23 side will still need to overcome two rounds of qualifying to secure a place at the tournament in Egypt.
The 2027 U23 AFCON will also serve as the qualifying tournament for the men’s football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Ghana will be seeking a return to the continental tournament after previously winning the inaugural U23 AFCON in 2011.
The upcoming draw will determine the country’s route to the 2027 competition as the U23 side begins its campaign for qualification and a potential place at the 2028 Olympics.
