Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing Ghana following the draw for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), describing Group D as a demanding one.
Ghana have been drawn alongside Cameroon, Cape Verde, and Mali in what promises to be a fiercely contested group.
Reacting to the draw in an interview with the Ghana Football Association, Björkegren admitted the Black Queens will need to be at their best to progress.
“It’s going to be a tough group for sure,” the Swedish tactician said.
He singled out Cameroon for special praise, noting the quality within their squad.
“I watched the Cameroon squad the other day, and I was a little bit surprised… I found out she is from Cameroon. I didn’t know, so it’s an amazing squad,” he added.
Björkegren also highlighted Mali as a familiar and dangerous opponent, recalling previous encounters on the global stage.
“We played against Mali in the previous Women’s World Cup, so we know that they are a good team,” he said.
The Black Queens will be making their second consecutive appearance at WAFCON, having returned to the continental stage last year after missing out since 2018. Under Björkegren’s guidance, Ghana secured a bronze medal at the previous edition of the tournament.
According to the competition format, the top two teams in each group will progress automatically to the quarterfinals.
Beyond continental success, Ghana have their sights set on a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in 19 years, with a semifinal finish at WAFCON enough to secure qualification.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3.
