LA 2028: Black Queens set for first steps of Olympic Games against Mauritius

Ghana's women's national football team, known as the Black Queens, are poised to make their first strides in Olympic Games qualifiers against Mauritius. This comes after a disappointing showing at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they were eliminated in the third round. The Black Queens will host their opponents in the first leg of the two-match series on October 8, with the qualifier taking place at the Cote d'Or National Sports Complex in St Pierre, Mauritius.

The team, led by Swedish coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren, has called up 24 players for the match, including 17 from their recent WAFCON squad and five players making a return to the national team. Among the newcomers are Rabiatu Maltitia and Margaret Agyapomaa. While both teams have had mixed fortunes in previous qualifiers, Mauritius managed to reach the second round of the 2024 edition, narrowly losing to Zambia in the final phase.

Ghana, on the other hand, has yet to qualify for the Olympic Games in any of the eight editions since women's football made its debut at the Games.

The head-to-head record between the two sides is relatively even, with both teams having won two and lost twice in their last five meetings. However, Mauritius has conceded more goals (12) than Ghana (5) during this period. Meanwhile, the Black Queens have shown a slightly better record of their own, winning two of their last five matches and drawing the other three.

Their attacking prowess has been highlighted by their six goals scored against five conceded during the same time frame. The first leg of the qualifier will kick off at 14:30 GMT at the Cote d'Or National Sports Complex.