Road To Los Angeles 2028: Super Falcons Draw First Olympic Qualifying Test
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
NIGERIA’S Super Falcons will begin their journey to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games in October.
The former African champions will face Comoros in the second round of the African women’s Olympic qualifiers. The two-legged tie will take place between 5 and 13 October 2026.
Nigeria earned a bye into the second round alongside fellow African heavyweights South Africa and Ghana. The seeding reflects the country’s standing among the continent’s top-ranked women’s teams.
Comoros, however, reached the second round in emphatic style. The island nation crushed Sudan 30-0 on aggregate in the opening round.
They won the first leg 17-0 before completing the rout with a 13-0 victory in the return match.
On paper, Nigeria enters the contest as the clear favourite. Nevertheless, the knockout format leaves little room for mistakes. The Falcons must win each stage if they want to return to the Olympic Games.
Nigeria’s campaign will also carry the weight of history.
The Falcons returned to the Olympics at Paris 2024 after a 16-year absence. They will now attempt to qualify for consecutive editions for the first time since appearing at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Victory over Comoros would move Nigeria into the third round. There, the Falcons would face either Morocco or Congo between 23 February and 6 March 2027.
Morocco could present a particularly difficult challenge. The Atlas Lionesses have emerged as one of Africa’s leading women’s teams in recent years.
Congo, meanwhile, could also pose a serious threat in a competition where one poor result can derail an entire campaign.
The fourth round will provide another major obstacle. It is scheduled for 4 to 12 October 2027, with Tunisia, Senegal, Benin Republic and Mali among the possible opponents.
Nigeria must therefore maintain consistency for more than a year.
The team will need strong preparation, player fitness, squad depth and tactical continuity. The home-and-away format will also test the Falcons’ ability to perform under different conditions.
Only two African teams will eventually qualify for Los Angeles.
The decisive phase will take place from 23 November to 4 December 2027. Four remaining teams will contest the final two ties, with the winners claiming Africa’s Olympic tickets.
Thirty-five African nations entered the qualifying competition.
For Nigeria, the route to Los Angeles could require four successful two-legged ties. That makes every goal, every away performance and every tactical decision potentially decisive.
The Falcons have a proud Olympic history. They competed at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 before returning at Paris 2024.
Their best Olympic showing came at Athens 2004, where they reached the quarter-finals.
Now, another generation has the opportunity to write its own chapter.
Former Super Falcons forward and Olympian Patience Avre-Odeli has called on the National Sports Commission and Nigeria Football Federation to provide adequate support throughout the campaign.
The challenge begins with Comoros.
For the Falcons, the road to Los Angeles is officially underway.
