Revoke Björkegren’s Black Stars role to focus on Black Queens’ WAFCON preparations - Ignatius Osei-Fosu to GFA ‎

Assistant coach of the Sudan national football team, Ignatius Osei-Fosu, has called on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to reconsider its decision to include Kim Lars Björkegren in the technical team of the Ghana national football team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June.

‎Osei-Fosu believes the move could negatively affect the preparations of the Ghana women's national football team, who are preparing for the rescheduled Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) set to take place in July.

‎The debate comes after the GFA decided to add Björkegren, currently head coach of the Black Queens to the Black Stars’ technical setup for the global tournament. The decision has raised concerns about possible scheduling conflicts and the impact on the women’s team’s preparations for WAFCON, which also serves as a pathway to the next FIFA Women's World Cup.

‎Speaking to Luv FM, Osei-Fosu stressed that Ghana must treat the Black Queens’ campaign with the same level of importance as the men’s team.

‎“They have to change because during the World Cup, the Black Queens must be preparing,” he said.

‎“I’m not calling for a change for the sake of it. They have to, unless they are throwing one of the tournaments under the bus. It’s fundamental because Ghana wants to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.”

‎Osei-Fosu added that his position reflects his long-standing support for the women’s national team.

‎“Anybody who has followed me knows that I’m the number one supporter of the Black Queens. The people managing the team cannot play with that tournament,” he said.

He also warned that the upcoming WAFCON tournament carries major stakes for Ghana’s women’s team, noting that success could secure qualification for the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

‎“This tournament we are going to play is a qualifier for the World Cup in Brazil. As I’m sitting here, nobody should play with it,” he added.

‎Osei-Fosu concluded that if Ghana expects the Black Stars to perform strongly on the global stage, equal seriousness must be given to the Black Queens as they pursue qualification for the next women’s football showpiece.