Ghana Football Association communications director Henry Asante Twum says Kim Lars Bjorkegren is prepared to combine his role as Black Queens head coach with leading the interim Black Stars technical team.
The Swedish coach has been appointed to oversee Ghana’s November 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Somalia, working alongside assistants Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, with Fatawu Dauda as goalkeepers’ coach.
Bjorkegren will retain responsibility for the Black Queens, who are preparing for their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs. Asante Twum said the coach welcomed the opportunity and was keen to test himself with the additional responsibility.
“He loves the challenge. At least, I spent the day with him, and I know he is ready to take it on. He also feels that it is time to test himself,” Asante Twum said.
The Ghana Football Association official believes the separate international windows will make it possible for Bjorkegren to fulfil both assignments without the fixtures directly overlapping.
“The Black Stars and Black Meteors’ games will run from the early part of November to the middle of the month. The Black Queens’ games will be at the end of November and into the first week of December,” he said on TV3’s Sports Station show.
He added that the 44-year-old would have enough time to prepare for each team because the men’s and women’s schedules fall in different periods.
“However, these matches fall within different time intervals. The Black Stars and Black Meteors’ games will run from the early part of November to the middle of the month. The Black Queens’ games will be at the end of November and into the first week of December.
“So, he has that luxury. The women’s international window is completely different from the men’s international window. While the women are playing, the men are on a break, and when the men resume, the women also have their turn.”
Bjorkegren is already familiar with the Black Stars, having served as one of Otto Addo’s assistants during preparations for the 2022 World Cup. His previous work with the team included friendly matches against Austria and Germany.
The interim appointment gives him the chance to take charge of Ghana’s senior men’s side as the Black Stars attempt to recover from defeats by Cote d’Ivoire and The Gambia in their opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Asante Twum urged supporters to back Bjorkegren during the temporary assignment before he returns to his duties with the Black Queens.
