Ghana's Black Queens have taken a significant step towards qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after securing a 3-0 victory over Mauritius in the first leg of their second-round CAF Women's Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament tie. The match was played on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex in St Pierre, Mauritius. This win gives the Black Queens a strong advantage heading into the return leg.
The Black Queens, under the guidance of Swedish head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, dominated the first half and scored three goals before the interval. Stella Nyamekye delivered a low cross into the box, which Abigail Kim finished from close range to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Comfort Yeboah provided a precise cross that Alice Kusi converted to make it 2-0 in the 24th minute. Yeboah was involved again, supplying Benedicte Simon, who produced a superb long-range curling finish into the top-left corner for her first goal for the senior national team and a 3-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, Mauritius improved and showed greater resistance, but Ghana remained organised and controlled proceedings. The Black Queens dominated possession and territory yet could not add to their tally. Notable near-misses included a Jennifer Cudjoe free-kick that rattled the crossbar in the 78th minute. Mauritius also struck the woodwork late in the game. Björkegren made changes at the start of the second half and later, introducing players such as Nancy Amoh, Josephine Bonsu, Zakaria Ajegipina, and Mukarama Abdulai.
The Black Queens' team selection for the fixture included Afi Amenyeku in goal, with debutant Margaret Agyapomaa partnering Diana Amoako at centre-back. Comfort Yeboah and Benedicte Simon operated as full-backs, while the midfield featured Jennifer Cudjoe, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, and Evelyn Badu. Up front, Abigail Kim led the line with Alice Kusi and Stella Nyamekye providing support on the flanks. Standout contributions came from the goalscorers and the creative full-backs, particularly Yeboah’s two assists.
This result marks Ghana’s first competitive match scoring three or more goals since a 3-0 win over Egypt in October 2025 during WAFCON qualifying. The win also highlights the team's progress under Björkegren, who has been building the side following the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Ghana has never qualified for the women’s Olympic football tournament, with their closest recent attempt coming in the Paris 2024 cycle, when they were eliminated by Zambia.
The second round of the qualifiers is a significant hurdle for the Black Queens, with the winners of this Ghana–Mauritius tie set to face either Uganda or Zambia in the third round. Uganda held a 2-1 first-leg lead over Zambia at the time of the match. The subsequent rounds are scheduled through 2027, with only the final four African teams securing Olympic places.
The return fixture between Ghana and Mauritius is scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana. A win or a draw for the Black Queens would see them progress to the next round, while a loss would force them to overcome a significant deficit.
Key points
- The Black Queens secured a 3-0 victory over Mauritius in the first leg of their second-round CAF Women's Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament tie.
- The win gives Ghana a strong advantage heading into the return leg.
- The Black Queens are aiming to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a first for the team.
