Ghana’s Black Queens thrashed Mauritius 7-0 in the second leg of their second-round tie in the African qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games women’s football tournament on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at Essipong Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, completing a dominant 10-0 aggregate victory.
The result secured progression to the third round. Ghana had already taken a commanding 3-0 lead in the first leg in Mauritius the previous Thursday, 8 October.
Match Context and Venue
The Black Queens (Ghana’s senior women’s national team), coached by Kim Lars Björkegren, entered the return fixture with a comfortable advantage but fielded a strong side and maintained an aggressive, attacking approach from the outset. They overwhelmed Mauritius (sometimes referred to as the Lady Dodos) with pace, power, and precision, particularly in the final third. The match marked a significant occasion for Essipong Stadium, which hosted its first competitive fixture since closing for renovation in 2018. Local fans turned out in support for the home side’s emphatic performance.
Mauritius, already three goals down from the first leg, struggled to contain Ghana’s pressure and rarely threatened.
First Leg Recap
In the first leg in Mauritius, Ghana won 3-0. Abigail Kim opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Alice Kusi added a second in the 24th minute, and Benedicte Simon sealed the result with a long-range strike in first-half stoppage time. Ghana controlled much of the contest and kept a clean sheet.
Second Leg: Goal Details and Flow
Ghana dominated possession and created sustained pressure. They led 3-0 at half-time and added four more after the break, with substitutes contributing significantly.
The approximate sequence of goals in the second leg was as follows:
• Evelyn Badu opened the scoring in the 9th minute.
• Captain Portia Boakye made it 2-0 in the 27th minute.
• Ajegipina Zakaria added a third around the 32nd minute.
Ghana went into the break with a 3-0 lead on the day (6-0 aggregate). After the restart they continued to press. Key second-half contributions included:
• Substitute Benedicte Simon scoring in the 73rd minute (her second goal of the tie).
• Jennifer Cudjoe converting a penalty in the 86th/87th minute.
• Nancy Amoh adding another late goal around the 89th minute.
• Substitute Mukarama Abdulai completing the scoring in stoppage time (around 90+2), marking a strong return from a lengthy injury layoff.
Ghana kept another clean sheet, finishing the two-legged tie with 10 goals scored and none conceded.
Significance and Next Steps
This was a statement performance in Ghana’s bid for a historic first appearance in the women’s Olympic football tournament (the competition has been part of the Olympics since the 1996 Atlanta Games, but the Black Queens have yet to qualify). The team’s attacking depth was on full display, with contributions from established players and impactful substitutes.
Ghana advances to the third round of the CAF qualifiers, where they will face Zambia (the Copper Queens) in February 2027. Zambia progressed by eliminating Uganda with a 5-3 aggregate victory after losing 1-2 in the first leg in Kampala before winning 4-1 at home in Ndola.
