Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has praised his players for their improved second-half display despite Ghana’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second Group D match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
A first-half penalty converted by Ngah Manga proved decisive as the Black Queens suffered a painful defeat, leaving their hopes of reaching the knockout stage hanging in the balance.
Reflecting on the performance, the Swedish coach admitted his side struggled in the opening half, where Cameroon dominated the physical battles and forced Ghana onto the back foot.
“Looking at the first half, I felt they won almost every 50-50 duel. It was not just that we lost the first ball; we lost the second and the third. We were just reacting in every moment,” Bjorkegren said.
He also criticised his team’s inability to keep possession and execute their tactical plan before the break.
“I wasn’t happy with the first half, and I felt we couldn’t control the ball either. We made it too simple for them. We played too many long balls instead of trying to break the first lines. Those were small tactical things that didn’t work for us,” he added.
However, Bjorkegren was encouraged by Ghana’s response after halftime, insisting the Black Queens showed greater composure and determination in the second half.
“I felt they adapted pretty well to the things we spoke about at halftime. The second half, technically, was much better and the fighting spirit was completely different. The game changed a lot. I’m proud of the girls for the performance and the fighting spirit they showed in the second half, but it was also too late today,” he said.
The Black Queens must now beat Mali in their final Group D fixture to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the tournament.
