2028 Olympic African qualifiers: Full draw unveiled with heavyweight clashes on the horizon

The draw for the African qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games was conducted on Wednesday at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, setting the stage for a grueling multi-round knockout campaign involving 35 nations.

With only two slots available for the final tournament in the United States, the road to Los Angeles promises intense competition as established powerhouses and emerging sides begin their journey toward Olympic glory.

The qualification process is structured into five distinct rounds. The opening round, scheduled for June 2026, features teams lower in the continental rankings.

Key matchups include Sudan facing the Comoros, South Sudan taking on Madagascar, and Mauritius playing Djibouti.

These early fixtures serve as a high-stakes entry point for teams looking to disrupt the established order of African women’s football.

As the competition progresses into the second round in October 2026, the continent’s heavyweights will enter the fray.

Defending qualifiers Nigeria and Zambia, along with South Africa, Morocco, and Ghana, received first-round byes based on their current standings.

One of the standout fixtures of the second round will see Zambia face off against Uganda, a clash that pits the Copper Queens’ clinical attack against a resilient Ugandan side.

Meanwhile, Ghana awaits the winner of the Mauritius and Djibouti tie, and Nigeria is set to begin their journey against Sudan or Comoros.

The draw has created several potential crackers in the later stages. Should the favorites advance, a collision between South Africa and Morocco looms in the third round, potentially reprising their high-stakes encounters from recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

The fifth and final round, which will determine the two successful representatives, is expected to take place in early 2028, just months before the Games begin in July.

CAF officials emphasized the growing parity in the African game during the ceremony, noting that the increased number of participating teams reflects the rapid investment in women’s football across the continent.

With the 2024 Paris representatives, Nigeria and Zambia, aiming to maintain their dominance, the 2028 qualifiers are set to be the most competitive in the tournament’s history.