BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
Ghana’s Black Queens will face Zambia in the third round of the African qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after both nations successfully navigated their respective second-round encounters.
The Black Queens secured their progression in emphatic fashion, demolishing Mauritius 7-0 in the second leg at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi on Tuesday to complete a commanding 10-0 aggregate victory.
Ghana had already established a comfortable advantage in the first leg, winning 3-0 at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex in Mauritius last Thursday. However, the team showed no signs of easing off in the return encounter, delivering another dominant performance in front of their home supporters.
The victory underlined attacking strength and reinforced the team’s determination to secure a historic first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
The Ghanaian side took control of Tuesday’s encounter with an impressive first-half performance, as captain Portia Boakye, Evelyn Badu and Ajegipina Zakaria found the back of the net to give the hosts a three-goal lead at the break.
The Black Queens maintained their intensity after the restart, with head coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s substitutions adding further attacking impetus.
Benedicte Simon, Jennifer Cudjoe, Nancy Amoh and Mukarama Abdulai each scored after the break as Ghana added four more goals to complete the 7-0 victory.
The result meant Ghana progressed with a 10-0 aggregate scoreline, having scored three times in Mauritius before producing seven unanswered goals in Sekondi-Takoradi.
The comprehensive win provides a confidence boost for the Black Queens as they prepare for a more demanding challenge against Zambia in the next round.
Zambia Set Up Ghana Showdown
Zambia secured their place in the third round after overcoming Uganda 5-3 on aggregate, setting up a potentially challenging encounter against Ghana.
The Copper Queens will enter the tie with their own ambitions of reaching the Olympic Games, meaning the Black Queens cannot afford to underestimate their opponents despite their impressive victory over Mauritius.
The meeting will bring together two African sides seeking to advance through a demanding qualification campaign for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Third-Round Fixtures Scheduled for 2027
The third-round qualifying ties are scheduled to take place between February 23 and March 6, 2027.
The eight teams that emerge victorious on aggregate from the third round will advance to the fourth round, which is scheduled for October 4-12, 2027.
The African qualifying competition consists of five knockout rounds, with the final four teams expected to compete in the last stage from November 23 to December 4, 2027.
At the conclusion of the qualifying campaign, Africa will have two representatives at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The demanding format means that teams must navigate several rounds of home-and-away fixtures, leaving little room for costly mistakes as the competition progresses.
