Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, will begin their quest for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games with a second-round fixture against either Mauritius or Djibouti.

The pairing was confirmed on Wednesday following the official draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at its headquarters in Cairo.

Early Advantage for Ghana

Due to their strong standing in the continental rankings — currently third in Africa — the Black Queens have been handed a bye from the opening round of the African qualifiers. While lower-ranked nations compete in the preliminary stage this June, Ghana will skip the initial hurdle and await the winner of the first-round tie between Mauritius and Djibouti.

Key Dates and Roadmap

The second-round matches are scheduled to take place between October 5 and October 13, 2026.

Despite the favorable start, the path to Los Angeles remains rigorous. To secure one of Africa’s limited slots at the 2028 Games, the Black Queens must navigate:

- The Second Round (October 2026)

- Three additional knockout rounds (running through late 2027)

All qualifying fixtures will be played over two legs on a home-and-away basis.

Eyeing an Olympic Return

Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his technical team are expected to intensify preparations as the qualifiers approach. Following the departure of former coach Nora Häuptle, the Swedish tactician has been tasked with building on the team's recent resurgence and securing a return to the global stage.

The Black Queens last appeared at the Olympic Games in 2004. After narrowly missing out on the previous cycle in a final-round loss to Zambia, the team is determined to end its 24-year wait with a successful 2028 campaign.