The city of Paris will host the 2024 Olympics from July 24 to August 10, 2024, and women’s football will be one of the main events that will draw keen attention from across the globe.
While serial campaigners like the USA, Canada, Japan and New Zealand are among the favourites, Africa will also be represented by Nigeria and Zambia, who came out tops during CAF’s Olympics qualifiers.
The Super Falcons are in a tough Group C, alongside Brazil, Spain and Japan, while Zambia also will have to navigate their way past the USA, Germany and Australia. No African team has ever won the Olympic women’s football event since its inception in 1996, with the farthest being Nigeria's quarter-final berth two decades ago.
The silver lining, though, is that finishing third could secure a place in the next round, as the two best third-placed teams from the three groups will be guaranteed qualification, alongside the table-toppers and their runners-up.
All you need to know about the 12 teams at the 2024 Olympics
As we count down to the start of the 2024 Olympics, Afrik-Foot brings you a dossier of all the 12 qualified teams in the women’s football event, their records in the tournament and which players to watch out for.
Group A
France
- FIFA ranking – 2nd
- Nickname – Les Bleues
- Best finish at the Olympics – 4th place (2012)
- How they qualified – Qualified as hosts of the competition
- Key player – Kadidiatou Diani
- Coach – Herve Renard
Colombia
- FIFA ranking – 22nd
- Nickname – Las Chicas Superpoderosas
- Best finish at the Olympics – Group stage (2012, 2016)
- How they qualified – Qualified by finishing as runners up in Copa America Femenina
- Key player – Linda Caicedo
- Coach – Angelo Marsiglia
Canada
- FIFA ranking – 8th
- Nickname – The Canucks
- Best finish at the Olympics – Champions (2020)
- How they qualified – Qualified by beating Jamaica in CONCACAF Olympic play-off
- Key player – Jessie Fleming
- Coach – Bev Priestman
New Zealand
- FIFA ranking – 28th
- Nickname – Football Ferns
- Best finish at the Olympics – Quarter-final (2012)
- How they qualified – Qualified by winning the OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
- Key player – Ali Riley
- Coach – Michael Mayne
Group B
United States of America (USA)
- FIFA ranking – 5th
- Nickname – The Stars and Stripes
- Best finish at the Olympics – Champions (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012)
- How they qualified – Qualified by winning CONCACAF Women’s Championship
- Key player – Sophia Smith
- Coach – Emma Hayes
Zambia
- FIFA ranking – 64th
- Nickname – Copper Queens[
- Best finish at the Olympics – Group stage (2020)
- How they qualified – Qualified by beating Morocco in CAF Olympic Qualifying playoff
- Key player – Barbra Banda
- Coach – Bruce Mwape
Germany
- FIFA ranking – 4th
- Nickname – DFB-Frauen
- Best finish at the Olympics – Champions (2016)
- How they qualified – Qualified by finishing 3rd in UEFA Women's Nations League
- Key player – Alexandra Popp
- Coach – Horst Hrubesch
Australia
- FIFA ranking – 12th
- Nickname – Matildas
- Best finish at the Olympics – 4th place (2020)
- How they qualified – Qualified by beating Uzbekistan in AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying
- Key player – Sam Kerr
- Coach – Tony Gustavsson
Group C
Spain
- FIFA ranking – 1st
- Nickname – La Roja
- Best finish at the Olympics – First time qualifying for the competition
- How they qualified – Qualified by winning UEFA Women's Nations League
- Key player – Aitana Bonmatí
- Coach – Montse Tome
Japan
- FIFA ranking – 7th
- Nickname – Nadeshiko
- Best finish at the Olympics – 2nd place (2012)
- How they qualified – Qualified by beating North Korea in AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying
- Key player – Fuka Nagano
- Coach – Futoshi Ikeda
Nigeria
- FIFA ranking – 36th
- Nickname – The Super Falcons
- Best finish at the Olympics – Quarter-final (2004)
- How they qualified – Qualified by beating South Africa CAF Olympic Qualifying playoff
- Key player – Asisat Oshoala
- Coach – Randy Waldrum
Brazil
- FIFA ranking – 9th
- Nickname – As Canarinhas
- Best finish at the Olympics – 2nd (2004, 2008)
- How they qualified – Qualified by winning Copa América Femenina winners
- Key player – Kerolin
- Coach – Arthur Elias
