Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren says he feels “no pressure at all” ahead of Ghana’s crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off against Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Ghana will face their West African rivals in Casablanca, Morocco, with a place in the intercontinental World Cup play-offs at stake.
The encounter provides the Black Queens with another opportunity to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament in Brazil alive after their automatic qualification hopes were ended by Malawi in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ghana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, a result that ruled them out of the automatic qualification places available through the continental tournament.
Despite the importance of Thursday’s fixture, Björkegren insists he is not feeling the pressure and believes maintaining a clear mind is essential when making important decisions on the touchline.
“For me personally, to be honest, no pressure at all,” Björkegren said at the pre-match press conference.
“I do not feel pressure because if I feel pressure, I can’t make the right decisions.”
The Swedish coach, who has extensive experience in the game, said his long career has helped him develop the ability to deal with high-pressure situations.
“I have been in this game for 20 years as a coach and 10 years as a player; that is my whole life,” he added.
The Black Queens have not qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup since their last appearance in 2007, making Thursday’s showdown with Ivory Coast particularly significant for Ghanaian women’s football.
