Nigeria’s Super Falcons face Morocco hurdle in LA 2028 Olympic qualifiers after Congo withdrawal

Nigeria’s Super Falcons could face Morocco in a blockbuster third-round tie in the African qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, provided they overcome Comoros in their two-legged second-round encounter.

The ten-time African champions now know the potential threat awaiting them after the Republic of the Congo withdrew from the qualifying competition, handing Morocco a passage into the next round without playing a second-round match.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation confirmed that FIFA had notified it of the Atlas Lionesses’ progression following the Congolese Football Federation’s decision to pull its women’s team out of the campaign.

The development clears Morocco’s path to a possible reunion with Nigeria, renewing memories of their dramatic showdown at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Nigeria must first overcome Comoros

Before turning their attention to Morocco, the Super Falcons must navigate a two-legged contest against Comoros, with both matches scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The first leg is scheduled for October 9, with the return fixture following four days later.

Comoros will play both matches in Nigeria because they do not have a suitable stadium to host the Olympic qualifiers.

Nigeria received a bye into the second round, while Comoros earned their place at this stage after recording a commanding 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan in the preliminary round.

The Super Falcons will enter the tie as strong favourites, given their pedigree in African women’s football and their recent continental success.

However, they must convert that advantage into results across the two matches to secure their place in the third round.

Victory on aggregate would set up a meeting with Morocco between February 23 and March 6, 2027, in what could prove one of the campaign’s most intriguing encounters.

Morocco reunion brings back WAFCON memories

A potential meeting between Nigeria and Morocco would revive their rivalry from the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Morocco, playing on home soil, appeared poised to claim their first continental crown after establishing a two-goal lead against the Super Falcons.

Nigeria, however, produced a remarkable second-half response, scoring three times to complete a comeback victory and secure their record-extending 10th WAFCON title.

That result reinforced Nigeria’s status as a dominant force in African women’s football, while Morocco’s performance underlined their growing competitiveness on the continental stage.

A rematch in the Olympic qualifiers would offer both teams another opportunity to measure their progress, with a place in the next round at stake.

For Nigeria, the immediate priority remains negotiating the Comoros challenge before they can begin preparations for a potential clash against the Atlas Lionesses.

Super Falcons chase another Olympic appearance

Nigeria are seeking to return to the Olympic women’s football tournament after representing Africa at the Paris 2024 Games.

The road to Los Angeles, however, will demand consistency across a challenging qualifying campaign.

Four knockout rounds stand between the Super Falcons and qualification, with Africa allocated only two places in the women’s football competition at the 2028 Olympics.

That limited allocation leaves little room for mistakes, making every tie crucial to Nigeria’s ambitions.

The Super Falcons will therefore need to approach the Comoros fixtures with the necessary focus before turning their attention to the prospect of facing Morocco.

Should they progress, the potential third-round contest would represent a significant test of their Olympic ambitions against a side they dramatically defeated in the last WAFCON final.