LA 2028: Black Queens face Zambia in Olympic qualifying rematch

The tie presents Ghana with an opportunity to overcome their previous disappointment against the Copper Queens and move closer to securing a place at the women's Olympic football competition for the first time.

The Black Queens booked their place in the next round with a commanding 10-0 aggregate victory over Mauritius, completing the job with a 7-0 win in the second leg at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi on Tuesday, 13 October.

Ghana had established a three-goal advantage in the first leg in Mauritius before delivering another dominant display on home soil.

Evelyn Badu, captain Portia Boakye and Ajegipina Zakaria scored in the opening half, giving the hosts a comfortable advantage. Jennifer Cudjoe, Nancy Amoh and Mukarama Abdulai then added to the score after the interval to seal an emphatic victory.

Zambia also advanced after recovering from a first-leg deficit to eliminate Uganda. The Copper Queens won the return fixture 4-1 in Ndola, securing a 5-3 aggregate triumph.

Barbra Banda scored twice in the decisive match, while Natasha Nanyangwe and Eneless Phiri also found the net to help Zambia progress.

The upcoming contest will bring back memories of the teams' dramatic meetings during the qualification campaign for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when Zambia emerged victorious over two legs.

In the first encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium in February 2024, the Copper Queens claimed a narrow 1-0 win, with Rachel Kundananji scoring the decisive goal in the 18th minute.

Ghana travelled to Ndola for the return fixture knowing they needed a victory to keep their Olympic ambitions alive. The Black Queens responded with an attacking performance at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, scoring three goals through Gifty Assifuah, Doris Boaduwaa and substitute Azumah Bugri.

However, Zambia fought back with goals from Barbra Banda and Kabange Mupopo before Banda scored again from a late free-kick. The decisive set-piece came after Ghana's Jennifer Cudjoe had been sent off.

The match finished 3-3, allowing Zambia to progress with a 4-3 aggregate victory. The result ended Ghana's hopes of reaching the Paris Games and extended their wait for a first appearance at the women's Olympic football tournament.

The Copper Queens went on to qualify for Paris 2024, marking their second participation in the competition. They will now aim to reach a third consecutive Olympic Games as they continue their pursuit of a place at Los Angeles 2028.

For Ghana, the upcoming two-legged tie represents another opportunity to make history. The Black Queens have never qualified for the women's football tournament since it was introduced at the Olympics in 1996.

The third-round matches are scheduled to take place between 23 February and 6 March 2027. The winners of the ties over two legs will progress to the fourth round of the African qualification campaign.

With only two Olympic places available to African nations, Ghana face a demanding challenge against a Zambian side with recent experience of competing on the Olympic stage.

The Black Queens will hope their emphatic victory over Mauritius provides the foundation for a stronger challenge, as they seek to overcome their past disappointment and take another step towards a historic Olympic debut.