Ahead of the upcoming international friendlies and the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), head coach of Ghana’s senior women’s national team the Black Queens, Kim Lars Björkegren, has embarked on a player-monitoring mission in Europe.
His first stop was Sweden, where he witnessed former Black Princesses star Sharon Sampson in action for Piteå IF in the Swedish Cup. Sharon, who recently joined the Swedish giants, played a key role as her team defeated Alingsås IF 1-0.
Before embarking on his trip abroad, Coach Kim was at the Nsawam Methodist Astro Turf, where Rootz Sistaz eliminated Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the Women’s FA Cup quarterfinals. He was impressed with the quality level of local players as well, optimistic of their ability to contribute immensely to the team.
In the coming weeks, Coach Kim will return to Ghana to continue evaluating players in the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League and the Women’s FA Cup. This monitoring exercise is part of his efforts to identify top talent for future assignments and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Morocco in his first friendly match as the coach of the team, he highlighted the team’s dedication and unity, stating that Ghana has a great team spirit here.
“We have worked hard in training. We did a good job in the game against Morocco even if the result was not what we were hoping for. They followed all the instructions and they did well. We are leaving as a better group and a better team,” he said.
The match against Morocco was a challenging start for the new coach, with a late goal from Sakina Ouzraoui securing the win for the hosts.
Originally, the Black Queens were scheduled to play a second friendly against Raja Casablanca Women. However, this match was called off due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the Ghana Football Association’s control.
Despite these setbacks, Coach Kim remains optimistic about the team’s progress and their preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
