Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has praised his team’s resilience and tactical discipline following their bronze-medal finish at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), while urging Ghana to stay committed to long-term football development.
Speaking at the Kotoka International Airport after the team’s return from Morocco, the Swedish tactician expressed pride in the squad’s journey, noting their steady improvement throughout the tournament.
“Step by step, we saw that we have the potential to beat almost all the teams in this tournament. We made some tactical adjustments after the first game, but ultimately, the girls did the biggest job,” he said.
The Black Queens were warmly welcomed home with cheers and music—a testament to their renewed connection with the Ghanaian public after a six-year absence from WAFCON.
Reflecting on the team’s preparation, Björkegren underscored the importance of the pre-tournament training camp, which he described as crucial for building team chemistry and confidence.
“We started with only friendly games and had almost no training at all before the tournament. But the pre-camp we had for a couple of weeks gave me the time to work closely with the players. We also had video analysis sessions every day, and that really helped us build confidence and structure,” he noted.
Looking ahead, the former Linköpings FC boss emphasized the need for sustained effort, promising to continue scouting new talent both locally and internationally.
“We can expect a little bit of rest to start with, but then again, hard work. The future is bright in Ghana, and there are more girls out there. We will keep spending time both here in Ghana and abroad to identify more talent,” he added.
When asked about the team’s prospects at the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, Björkegren was cautiously optimistic.
“We can see how close we are. We played against Morocco in front of 21,000 fans, and we were the better team. Of course, we know that we can win it, but we must continue to respect our opponents and keep improving,” he said.
The Black Queens capped off their impressive WAFCON return with a third-place finish, edging South Africa in a dramatic penalty shootout to clinch the bronze medal.
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