Kim Lars Björkegren Targets WAFCON Glory as Black Queens Chase Historic Title
Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has outlined an ambitious roadmap for Ghana at the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), insisting his side is determined to lift the continental trophy while securing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Swedish tactician made his intentions clear ahead of Ghana’s opening Group A fixture against Cape Verde, which will be played on Wednesday at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.
Speaking to the media before the tournament opener, Björkegren revealed the objectives he has set for his team.
“We have three targets: qualify from the group stage, win the quarter-finals to qualify for the World Cup and go all the way to win the 2026 WAFCON,” he said.
The Black Queens head into the competition buoyed by an encouraging training camp in Morocco, where they concluded their preparations with a commanding 4-0 victory over Malawi in a friendly match.
The convincing win has boosted confidence within the squad as Ghana prepares to begin its quest for a first continental crown.
Having finished third at the last edition of the tournament, the Black Queens are aiming to build on that achievement and establish themselves among Africa’s elite.
Björkegren believes the current squad is capable of taking the next step after the progress made over the past year.
“We were happy with the bronze medal in the previous WAFCON. I think we did really well. When I came in, I took over a team that normally hadn’t performed really well in a long time,” he noted.
After their opening match against Cape Verde, Ghana will continue their campaign against Cameroon on Saturday, August 2, before concluding the group phase with a clash against Mali on August 6.
With a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup reserved for the four semi-finalists, the Black Queens know a successful run at WAFCON 2026 could deliver both continental glory and a return to football’s biggest stage.
