CAF set for 2028 Olympic Qualifiers Draw as Nigeria and 34 nations jostle for two tickets

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

 

The race for Africa’s spots at the women’s football tournament of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games gathers momentum on Wednesday as the Confederation of African Football conducts the official qualifying draw in Cairo.

Scheduled to take place at CAF headquarters, the ceremony will be broadcast live on CAF TV from 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT), setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested campaign across the continent.

A total of 35 national teams will enter the qualification series, underscoring the growing strength and depth of women’s football in Africa. 

Among the contenders are continental heavyweights like Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon and Ghana, alongside emerging sides eager to make their mark on the Olympic stage.

Other nations in the mix include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The qualification journey will unfold over five rounds, with only two teams ultimately earning the right to represent Africa at the women’s football event of the 2028 Summer Olympics, scheduled for 11 to 29 July 2028 in Los Angeles.

With just two coveted Olympic slots available, the stakes could not be higher. 

For traditional powerhouses and rising challengers alike, Wednesday’s draw marks the first decisive step on a long and demanding road to Los Angeles.