Black Queens land in Mauritius to begin LA 2028 Olympic push
While the Black Stars search for a new coach, Ghana's women are already on the road. The Black Queens arrived in Mauritius on Monday to begin their campaign to reach the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with the first leg of their qualifier set for Thursday, October 8.
The tie
Ghana received a bye in the first round of African qualifying and were drawn against the winner of the tie between Mauritius and Djibouti. Mauritius came through that contest, setting up a two-legged second-round meeting with the Black Queens.
After Thursday's game in Mauritius, the teams meet again on Tuesday, October 13, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
According to MyJoyOnline, ten players had arrived at the Black Queens' camp by midday on Monday, including Rose Teye Baah, Margaret Agyapomaa, Diana Amoako, Nancy Amoh and Rabiatu Maltiti.
New faces and a welcome return
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has named a 24-player squad, according to GhanaSoccernet. Two members of the Black Princesses set-up, Ampem Darkoa Ladies' Rabiatu Maltiti and Police Ladies' Margaret Agyapomaa, have earned their first senior call-ups.
The headline return is that of Mukarama Abdulai. The former Black Maidens captain, now with Turkish side Ünye, is back in the squad after a long spell out with injury. GhanaSoccernet reports she has been absent for around two years, and she is one of five players recalled, along with Rose Teye Baah, Diana Amoako, Helen Alormenu and Nancy Amoh.
Experience at the core
Despite the new faces, the squad has a familiar look. GhanaSoccernet says 17 players from Ghana's squad at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco have been retained.
The list includes several players based abroad, among them captain Portia Boakye of UNAM Pumas, Evelyn Badu of Montreal Roses, Stella Nyamekye of FK Brann, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah of Nottingham Forest, and Tigres pair Susan Ama Duah and Grace Asantewaa.
Full squad
As published by the Ghanaian Times: Cynthia Konlan Fiindib (Samartex Ladies), Afi Amenyeku (FK Apolonia), Rose Teye Baah (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Benedicte Simon (Servette), Comfort Yeboah (Logroño), Josephine Bonsu (Young Boys), Rabiatu Maltiti (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Portia Boakye (UNAM Pumas), Margaret Agyapomaa (Police Ladies), Susan Ama Duah (Tigres), Diana Amoako (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Grace Asantewaa (Tigres), Jennifer Cudjoe (Brooklyn FC), Helen Alormenu (Texas State University), Nancy Amoah (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Evelyn Badu (Montreal Roses), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Nottingham Forest), Sharon Simpson (Piteå IF), Princella Adubea (Yüksekova), Alice Kusi (Al Ahli), Stella Nyamekye (FK Brann), Mukarama Abdulai (Ünye), Zakaria Ajegepina (Al Quadisya), Abigail Kofi Kim (Trabzonspor).
What is at stake
Winning the tie would move the Black Queens a step closer to the women's football tournament at the Los Angeles Olympics. After a difficult few weeks for Ghana's senior men's team, a strong showing in Mauritius would offer some welcome good news for Ghanaian football.
Photo: Celestinesucess / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0