Ghana’s Black Queens head coach, Lars Kim Björkegren, says his team is ready to fight for survival in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as they prepare for a decisive Group C encounter against Mali on Friday.
The match comes on the heels of Ghana’s 2-0 defeat to defending champions South Africa in their opening game, a result that leaves the Queens in a must-win position if they hope to progress beyond the group stage.
At a pre-match press conference in Casablanca, Björkegren acknowledged the strength of the opposition but expressed quiet confidence in his side’s ability to bounce back.
“We’re up against a strong team with some very good attacking players,” the Swedish coach said. “It’s going to be a difficult and tricky match. But we’ve done our homework, we’ve spent a lot of time analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.”
Mali, who are also pushing for a spot in the knockout stages, are known for their pace and physicality, qualities the Black Queens will need to contain while rediscovering their own rhythm and composure on the ball.
Despite the pressure, Björkegren was optimistic.
“At the end of the day, we believe in ourselves,” he said. “The key is to approach the game with our identity and style of play. That’s what matters most.”
Ghana showed flashes of promise in their opener, particularly in the first half, but were ultimately undone by South Africa’s clinical finishing. With South Africa now topping the group and set to face Tanzania, Friday’s showdown between Ghana and Mali has all the makings of a pivotal battle.
The match kicks off on Friday, 11 July, and could define the trajectory of the Black Queens’ WAFCON journey, one they hope won’t end in the group stages.
