Nigeria women’s national football team get favorable draw in 2028 Summer Olympics Qualifiers

Nigeria’s Nigeria women’s national football team have been handed a relatively smooth старт to their qualification campaign for the 2028 Summer Olympics following the official draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football.

As Africa’s top-ranked women’s side, the Super Falcons received a bye into the second round and will begin their campaign in October 2026 against the winner of the preliminary tie between Sudan and Comoros.

A total of 35 nations are competing for just two available slots at the Olympics, with the qualifiers structured as a five-round knockout competition.

The opening round, scheduled for June 1–9, 2026, will see Sudan and Comoros face off over two legs, with the winner advancing to meet Nigeria in the second round from October 5–13, 2026. The Super Falcons are set to host the decisive second leg.

Should Nigeria progress, they will still need to navigate three additional knockout rounds stretching into late 2027 to secure qualification.

The bye reflects Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s football and their status as reigning continental champions. Having returned to Olympic competition at 2024 Summer Olympics after a long absence, the Nigeria Football Federation is aiming to establish consistent appearances on the global stage.

Team officials say the early-round fixture provides an opportunity to blend experienced players with emerging talents before tougher tests later in the campaign.

Elsewhere, the second round will feature several high-profile clashes, including Tunisia vs Senegal, Zambia vs Uganda, Cameroon vs Guinea, and Morocco vs Congo.

The qualification series will run through 2027, with the final round scheduled for November 23 to December 4, 2027.

The women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles Olympics will take place from July 11 to 29, 2028. For Nigeria, the goal extends beyond qualification, with ambitions to improve on their best Olympic performance—a quarter-final finish at 2004 Summer Olympics.