Sierra Queens of Sierra Leone has not been listed for Africa’s qualification campaign for the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games, following the release of a 35-team lineup by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The qualification series scheduled to run from June 2026 to December 2027, will unfold over five grueling knockout rounds, producing just two representatives for the 2028 Olympics featuring African powerhouses, including Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana are expected to lead the charge, alongside emerging contenders such as Zambia, Morocco and Senegal.
The draw for this knockout phase was held will on 28 April 2026 in Cairo, According to the procedure, the 35 teams taking part are: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
CAF has however, confirmed that the anticipated qualifiers format will begin with a preliminary round featuring six lower-ranked teams before expanding into a 32-team bracket, with home-and-away ties steadily narrowing the field to the final two.
However, its crystal clearer that the Sierra Leone national Women’s team absence marks a significant blow, as women’s football gains pace across the continent. While the continent’s qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament will offer vital exposure, competitive match experience and pathways to investment and professional opportunities, benefits now out of reach for the West African football loving nation.
With Africa’s limited Olympic slots intensifying competition, the expanded campaign underscores both the continent’s growing depth and the rising cost of non-participation.
As the road to the 2028 Olympics begins, Sierra Leone remains on the outside, missing a pivotal moment in the evolution of women’s football in Africa.
