WAFCON 2025: Coach Bjorkegren Praises Black Queens Despite 2-0 Defeat to South Africa
Ghana’s head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has praised the Black Queens’ spirited display in their 2-0 loss to defending champions South Africa in their opening Group C match of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The much-anticipated clash took place on July 7, 2025, and saw the Queens concede twice in the first half, but Bjorkegren remained optimistic about his team’s performance and future prospects.
A Tough Start, But Signs of Promise
The Black Queens found themselves on the back foot after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review awarded a penalty against Grace Asantewaa for a foul on Noxolo Cesane. South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo made no mistake from the spot, converting calmly just before the 30-minute mark.
Minutes later, Banyana Banyana extended their lead through a well-placed low shot from Jermaine Seoposenwe, effectively doubling the pressure on the Ghanaians.
Despite the early setbacks, Coach Bjorkegren found positives in the team’s overall display.
“I’m really happy with the first hour of the game until the penalty came,” he said. “They scored from the penalty, it came from nowhere. After that, we gave them the opportunity to score another one, and that was the problem. When we lose concentration, we give the ball away too much. But otherwise, I think the performance was good.”
Next Up: Crucial Test Against Mali
The Black Queens will look to bounce back strongly in their next Group C fixture against Mali. Mali currently sit second in the group standings after securing a win over Tanzania in the other group match.
With a strong team spirit and renewed focus, Ghana’s women will be hoping to turn things around and keep their WAFCON dreams alive.
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