Ghana Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren says his team must combine strong defensive organisation with attacking confidence when they take on Malawi in the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals.
The Swedish coach acknowledged the quality and determination of the Malawi women’s national team, warning that Ghana will need to be disciplined to contain their dangerous attacking players.
Speaking ahead of the crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 encounter, Björkegren described Malawi as a hardworking and physical side, recalling the intensity of a recent friendly between the two teams.
“They are a pretty good, hard-working group,” the Black Queens coach said, noting that the previous meeting was highly physical.
Björkegren also highlighted the threat posed by two of Malawi’s attacking players, whom he described as world-class. However, he stressed that Ghana cannot rely solely on defensive football.
According to the coach, the Black Queens must find the right balance between stopping Malawi’s attacking threats and maintaining their own attacking identity.
“We can’t just defend with 11 players. We need to find a balance, do what we can to defend against them, but also believe in ourselves, keep the ball and take care of our chances a little better than we have done so far,” he said.
Black Queens Showing Improvement
The Ghana coach believes the Black Queens have continued to improve throughout the tournament, with their performances against Cameroon and Mali providing evidence of their progress.
He said Ghana improved significantly during the second half of their match against Cameroon before producing a complete performance against Mali.
“We improved in the second half against Cameroon, and we did a good full game against Mali. If we keep doing the right things, hopefully it’s going to be a fun game tomorrow,” Björkegren stated.
WAFCON Quarter-Final Has World Cup Qualification Stakes
The upcoming match against Malawi is particularly important because victory would send the Black Queens into the WAFCON 2026 semi-finals and secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Björkegren described the fixture as one of the most significant matches in recent Ghanaian women’s football history.
“We know we’re going to play one of the most important games in Ghanaian women’s football in 20 years,” he said.
The coach added that the players, technical team and Ghana Football Association (GFA) are fully aware of what is at stake and are determined to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We will do everything we can to make sure Ghana has a national team playing in Brazil next year,” he said, stressing that the World Cup would provide Ghana’s players with an important opportunity to showcase their talent on the global stage.
Björkegren Urges Ghana to Stay Organised
The Black Queens head coach also emphasised the importance of maintaining their defensive shape against Malawi while remaining committed to their attacking philosophy.
He explained that Ghana must avoid becoming too reactive and instead focus on executing their own game plan.
“The balance is how you defend without losing your own shape, your own performance, and your own way to attack. We have to play our game, not just react to theirs,” Björkegren said.
With WAFCON 2026 semi-final qualification and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the line, the Black Queens are expected to approach the Malawi quarter-final with determination as Ghana seeks to make a deep run in the tournament.
Source: newsthemegh.com