Bjorkegren: Senegal Friendly Was a Close Game That Could Have Ended 0-0

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has offered his assessment following Ghana’s 1-0 loss to the Teranga Lionesses of Senegal in their second international friendly in Dakar on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

The defeat came just days after Ghana had edged Senegal 1-0 in the first meeting, with the second leg serving as another key fixture in the team’s preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Speaking after the match, Bjorkegren explained the tactical decisions behind the team’s rotation and pointed out the lack of chemistry due to a significantly altered starting XI.

“We changed half of the team between those two games. Of course, many players hadn’t played together before, so of course when you put almost a new starting eleven together, that can be a bit difficult because football is about natural relations,” the Swedish coach said.

He noted that neither side created many clear-cut chances during the match and felt the result didn’t fully reflect the balance of play.

“We came in to play. In the end, it was a close game, not so many chances for either team. Normally it’s a 0-0 game, but they scored and there is nothing I can do about it, so it’s just congratulations to Senegal,” he added.

The team’s performance in the friendlies, combined with valuable tactical insights from the coaching staff, will be key as Ghana continues its preparations for WAFCON.