Morocco's women's national team has progressed to the third round of the African qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This advancement comes after Congo's withdrawal from the competition, as announced by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. The federation stated that FIFA formally notified them of Morocco's qualification. As a result, Morocco will proceed to the next stage without playing their scheduled second-round tie.
The Atlas Lionesses will face the winner of the two-legged meeting between Nigeria and Comoros in the third round. This stage is scheduled to take place between February 23 and March 6, 2027. A total of 16 teams will compete over two legs for eight places in the fourth round. The qualifying campaign will continue through two further knockout stages, with only the final two teams earning Africa's places at the 2028 Olympics.
This campaign presents another opportunity for Morocco to reach the women's Olympic football tournament for the first time. The team came close to qualifying for Paris 2024, reaching the final African playoff against Zambia. Although Morocco won the first leg 2-1 away from home, they were unable to secure the Olympic ticket after Zambia's 2-0 victory in Rabat.
The new campaign coincides with continued international progress for Moroccan women's football. The team reached the semifinals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. They secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil after defeating South Africa 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Their continental run eventually ended against Cameroon on penalties.
Qualification for Los Angeles would mark another milestone for the national team, which has already reached consecutive World Cups but is still chasing its first appearance in the Olympic women's football tournament. The Los Angeles 2028 women's football tournament will be the largest in Olympic history, expanding from 12 to 16 participating nations.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation and FIFA have been key to the team's progress. The federation's efforts to promote women's football in Morocco have contributed to the team's success. Morocco's advancement in the qualifiers demonstrates the country's growing presence in international women's football.
The team's journey to the Olympics will continue with the third round of qualifiers. The winner of the Nigeria and Comoros match will determine Morocco's next opponent. The team's performance in the qualifiers will be crucial in determining their chances of participating in the 2028 Olympics.
Key points
- Morocco's women's national team advances to third round of African qualifiers for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
- The team will face the winner of the Nigeria and Comoros match in the third round.
- Qualification for Los Angeles would mark Morocco's first appearance in the Olympic women's football tournament.
