The journey to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for women's football teams in Africa begins this week. Following the U23 CAN 2027 qualifiers, which also serve as qualifiers for the Olympic Games, it's now the turn of the women's teams. A total of six matches are scheduled for Thursday, October 8, as part of the first round of qualifiers. These matches mark the beginning of a long process that will see teams compete over four rounds, culminating in two final matches.
Two teams, Cameroon and Morocco, have already qualified for the third round. They were exempt from the first round due to their performance in the recent CAN women's tournament. The two teams that reached the semi-finals of the CAN women's tournament, Cameroon and Morocco, will have a bye in the first round. Morocco was initially set to play Congo, but the Congolese Football Federation decided to withdraw its national team from the competition. As a result, Morocco will play Uzbekistan in two friendly matches in Rabat.
Cameroon, the African champions, were scheduled to play Guinea, but the Guinean selection was also withdrawn from the qualifiers by its federation. The Indomitable Lionesses will not play any friendly matches during this break and will focus on club activities. Ethiopia began the qualifiers on a positive note, defeating Rwanda 1-0 on Wednesday, October 7. The return match is set for Tuesday, October 13, in Ethiopia.
Thursday's schedule includes six matches: Seychelles vs. Kenya at 14h, Uganda vs. Zambia at 15h, Mauritius vs. Ghana at 16h30, Benin vs. Mali at 18h, Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea at 20h, and Tunisia vs. Senegal at 20h. More matches are scheduled for Friday, October 9, with eight fixtures lined up. The return matches for the first round will take place starting Monday, October 12.
The qualifiers will run over four rounds, concluding with two final matches. The winners of these finals will secure qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The process will be lengthy, with teams competing in a series of matches to determine the final qualifiers. African teams will be competing for a limited number of spots available for the Olympics.
The recent CAN women's tournament played a significant role in determining the teams that would have a bye in the first round. Morocco and Cameroon, as semi-finalists, have been given a direct entry into the third round. Other teams will have to go through the qualifiers, competing against each other in a series of matches. The competition will be fierce as teams aim to secure a spot in the Olympic Games.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature women's football, with African teams competing for a place in the tournament. The qualifiers will be a challenging process, but teams will be determined to make it to the Olympics. The matches will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as teams battle it out for a spot in the Olympic Games.
Key points
- The first round of the women's football qualifiers for the 2028 Olympics in Africa includes six matches scheduled for Thursday, October 8.
- Cameroon and Morocco have qualified for the third round due to their performance in the recent CAN women's tournament.
- A total of 2 spots are available for African teams in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics women's football tournament.
