WAFCON 2026: No Pressure at all – Black Queens coach ahead of must-win Mali clash
Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjökegren insists his players are embracing rather than fearing the challenge ahead of Ghana’s decisive Group D clash against Mali at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Black Queens face a must-win encounter on Thursday, with victory guaranteeing their place in the quarter-finals after an eventful group-stage campaign in Morocco.
Ghana began the tournament on a positive note with a convincing victory over tournament debutants Cape Verde. However, their hopes of sealing early qualification were dented by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second outing, leaving qualification hanging in the balance.
Despite the significance of the final group fixture, Bjökegren believes his squad has remained composed and focused throughout preparations.
“We don’t have any pressure at all, not for a single second,” the Swedish coach told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
“I think for the girls, I can’t talk for them but they look pretty relaxed. We have, of course, been talking about football and things like that, but we also try to relax a little bit and talk about other things.”
The coach’s comments reflect a growing confidence within the Ghana camp as the Black Queens seek to bounce back from their defeat to Cameroon and keep their tournament ambitions alive.
A win over Mali would not only secure a place in the last eight but also strengthen Ghana’s bid to challenge for continental honours and continue their journey towards qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The decisive Group D fixture will kick off at 20:00 GMT on Thursday at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with both teams expected to battle fiercely for a place in the knockout stage.
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