Björkegren Demands Fearless Mindset as Black Queens Prepare for Historic Test Against England
Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has urged his players to show courage, self-belief, and relentless teamwork ahead of Ghana’s much-anticipated friendly against the England Lionesses on Tuesday night at St Mary’s Stadium.
Addressing the media during the pre-match press briefing, Björkegren reflected on England’s commanding performance in their recent victory over China, noting it offered crucial insights for his team.
“England played great and at the same time I respect China,” he said.
“We are talking about a team that is 16th in the world and we are 67th, so I can’t blame them too much. But I think in how they attacked the game, they made some mistakes. They were too afraid. And if you are afraid to play against England, then you’re going to be destroyed, exactly what happened.”
The Swedish manager stressed that the Black Queens must approach Tuesday’s fixture with a different mentality—one rooted in confidence and intent.
“We need to attack the game differently. We believe in ourselves. We know we have strong players who are ready to tackle, to work hard, to take every duel. I hope we can stay in the game as long as possible. Our game plan is to win, whether that’s realistic or not, I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
Björkegren also emphasized the identity he wants his team to embody, highlighting the unity and ambition that have shaped their preparations.
“I like the fact that we work hard and dream big and we do it together. You’re going to see a hard-working team. Whether it gives us a good result or not, we will see, but we’re going to do everything we can. If we are brave out there and give everything, everyone watching will see that we did something really good.”
The Black Queens will take on the reigning European champions on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 PM at St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
