Fresh off his Real Madrid move, Ghana's Oscar Naasei joins the Black Meteors for a crucial U-23 AFCON qualifier against Libya.
Another young African talent is stepping out of Europe's elite academy system and onto the continental stage. Ghanaian defender Oscar Naasei, now at Real Madrid Castilla, has been named in Desmond Ofei's 23-man Black Meteors squad for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.
The 21-year-old Accra-born centre-back is one of eight foreign-based players picked for the two-legged tie, as Ghana chase a place at the tournament in Egypt. His call-up arrives just weeks after a major step up in his career: Real Madrid reportedly signed him from Granada in August in a deal said to be worth around €2 million.
Naasei came through the youth ranks at Granada and earned senior-team opportunities before the Madrid switch. He made his Castilla debut on August 31, going the full 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw away to Teruel in the Primera Federación, a composed introduction to life at one of football's biggest clubs.
Primarily a centre-back who can also cover at right-back, Naasei brings physical presence and tactical flexibility, valuable traits in a knockout-style qualifier. Having previously featured for the senior national team, he now gets another chance to represent Ghana.
He is joined in the squad by Barcelona B youngster Aziz Issah and Annecy's David Oduro, among other overseas-based players, as Ofei assembles a group blending local and European experience for the Libya challenge.
