Nigeria’s quest to return to the Olympic stage has taken its first step, with the Super Falcons handed a second-round tie against either Sudan or Comoros in the qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The draw, conducted at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, confirmed that Nigeria will enter the race later than most rewarded with a bye as Africa’s top-ranked side and reigning continental champions.
That status means the Nigeria women’s national football team will not play until October 2026, when they face the winner of the first round clash between Sudan and Comoros. That preliminary tie is scheduled for early June, setting the stage for Nigeria’s entry into the competition.
The Falcons’ fixtures will be played over two legs between October 5 and 13, with progression crucial in what promises to be a long and demanding qualification series.
In total, 35 teams are involved across five knockout rounds, with only two nations ultimately securing Africa’s tickets to the women’s football event at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
READMORE: FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers: Nigeria, Ghana lead final race as Africa’s last tickets go on the line
Elsewhere, the draw has produced several high profile matchups. Tunisia will face Senegal, while Morocco takes on Congo. There are also heavyweight clashes involving Cameroon against Guinea and Zambia meeting Uganda, underlining the depth of competition across the continent.
For Nigeria, the campaign represents another attempt to re-establish consistency on the Olympic stage. Despite their dominance in African women’s football, qualification for the Games has not always been straightforward.
The Super Falcons missed three consecutive editions between 2012 and 2020 before returning at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they exited at the group stage after facing strong opposition.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
Historically, their best performance came at the Athens 2004 Olympics, where they reached the quarterfinals still the highest finish by any African team in the women’s tournament.
