Björkegren, the head coach of Ghana’s Black Queens, has described the recent quarter-final exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as the ‘worst feeling’ of her 20-year coaching career. Ghana’s hopes of automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup were dealt a significant blow after a 2-1 loss to Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat. The defeat, stemming from a frustrating start and a series of tactical miscalculations, has ignited a deep sense of disappointment within the team and the nation. The match was particularly painful for Björkegren, who admitted the result represents a profound loss for the entire team and the country as a whole.
Following the setback, Björkegren expressed her feelings of profound sadness, stating, ‘Maybe potentially the worst feeling I had in 20 years of coaching. I’m feeling so much for this team, for Ghana.’ The Black Queens’ performance was characterized by a slow, meandering style of play, with Ghana relying heavily on long balls and failing to impose their control on the game. ‘I felt that we started the game pretty well,’ Björkegren explained. ‘We were holding the ball in the team, we were creating some chances, we scored a goal. I think we started to kick the ball a little bit too long at the end of the first half and made it a little bit too easy for us and also for the opponent.’
The defeat has now forced Ghana to embark on the play-offs to secure their place in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Björkegren highlighted the impact of Ghana’s limited recovery time and travel schedule, noting that the team’s schedule was exceptionally demanding, with multiple trips and a relatively short rest period before the games. She further elaborated, ‘We talked about it at half-time to try to control it a little more. I think we did it for a while in the second, but in the end we couldn’t control it enough and create chances enough,’ she added.
Furthermore, the coach emphasized the team’s struggles with maintaining momentum after a potentially promising opening phase. ‘Ghana lost control of the match after making an impressive start, with the Black Queens increasingly relying on long balls and allowing Malawi to impose themselves on the game.’ The team’s reliance on these tactics, according to Björkegren, contributed to their inability to fully capitalize on opportunities.
Despite the disappointment, Björkegren remains optimistic about Ghana’s prospects. ‘The Black Queens will have another opportunity to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they face Côte d’Ivoire in the play-offs on Thursday at 18:00 GMT,’ she stated. The team’s performance has been further complicated by the difficulty of recovery time, requiring a significant amount of rest before the next match.
Björkegren stressed the importance of regaining control of the game, something the team struggled with in the second half, which ultimately proved insufficient to prevent Malawi from achieving victory.”
The Black Queens’ journey to the play-offs will be crucial in determining their fate, and the team’s performance will be closely scrutinized as they strive to overcome this significant setback. The coach’s words reflect the immense pressure and the profound sense of loss felt by the team and the nation.
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Source: Adom Sports
