The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have joined forces to support the country's national teams, the Black Queens and Black Meteors, in their bid to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. A high-level strategic meeting was held to develop a joint roadmap for Ghana's Olympic qualification campaigns. This collaboration aims to end Ghana's 24-year absence from Olympic football. The last time Ghana featured in Olympic football was at the 2004 Athens Games.
GOC President Richard Akpokavie emphasized the importance of a coordinated approach to achieve Olympic qualification. He commended the GFA for outlining the qualification timelines and assured the football authorities and national teams of the GOC's continued support. The Black Queens will begin their Olympic qualifying campaign in June 2026, while the Black Meteors are expected to start their campaign between November 2026 and March 2027.
The Black Meteors' first major target is qualification for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, which will also serve as the decisive stage of the men's Olympic qualification process. The two finalists of the tournament will earn automatic qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games. For the women, two African teams will secure places at the Los Angeles Games, giving Ghana's Black Queens an opportunity to return to the Olympic stage.
GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo welcomed the GOC's involvement, stressing the importance of close cooperation between the two bodies. He noted that the GOC has the ultimate responsibility for Ghana's participation at the Olympic Games, making collaboration crucial to achieving the qualification objective. Rev. Richmond Quarcoo, Chef de Mission for Team Ghana at LA2028, also pledged his office's support and promised direct coordination with the GFA.
The GOC and GFA have agreed to establish a structured plan to guide the campaigns of the Black Queens and Black Meteors. The shared objective is to end Ghana's 24-year wait for Olympic football and ensure the nation is represented in Los Angeles in 2028. This collaboration marks a significant step towards achieving Olympic qualification and restoring Ghana's presence in the sport at the Games.
Ghana's Black Queens previously appeared in the 2016 Olympic Games, and the team is determined to make a return to the Olympic stage. The women's qualification process will run until December 2027 across five series of matches. The GOC and GFA will work together to provide the necessary support for both teams to succeed in their respective campaigns.
The collaboration between the GOC and GFA has been hailed as a positive step towards achieving Olympic qualification. With a structured plan in place, Ghana's Black Queens and Black Meteors are well on their way to ending the country's 24-year wait for Olympic football. The nation's fans are eagerly anticipating the teams' performances in the upcoming qualification campaigns.
Key points
- The GOC and GFA are working together to support Ghana's Black Queens and Black Meteors in their bid to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.
- Ghana last featured in Olympic football at the 2004 Athens Games, marking a 24-year absence from the sport at the Games.
- The Black Queens and Black Meteors have been given a clear roadmap for their respective qualification campaigns, with the GOC and GFA providing coordinated support.
