Black Queens Coach Confident Ahead of Crucial WAFCON Showdown Against Mali

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back ahead of their decisive clash against Mali in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Ghana’s hopes of progressing in the tournament are on the line after a 2-0 loss to defending champions South Africa in their opening Group C fixture.

That defeat left Ghana at the bottom of the table, but the coach remains upbeat about the team’s performance and mindset going into the must-win encounter. Björkegren insists the Queens showed enough quality and determination to be optimistic about their chances.

Ghana Aims for Redemption Against Tough Mali Side

“We hit the bar twice and had more shots, more corners. We were pushing till the end. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we played well against a strong team,” Björkegren noted, reflecting on the match against South Africa.

Looking ahead to the clash with Mali — who only need a draw to progress — Björkegren stressed that the Queens will adopt an aggressive approach. “Mali may only need a point to qualify, but our mentality is to win every game, whether it’s the group stage or the final. We’ve studied Mali closely, but we believe in our style and ability,” he added.

The high-stakes Group C match will take place at the Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco today, Thursday, July 11, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.

Also Read: WAFCON 2025: Coach Bjorkegren Praises Black Queens Despite 2-0 Defeat to South Africa