Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren says reaching the quarterfinals was always the plan, and he is delighted Ghana have ticked off one of their three key targets for the summer after a nervy 0-0 draw with Mali at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Swedish tactician believes Thursday’s group stage finale was Ghana’s most complete display of the tournament so far, even if the failure to convert chances made for a tense finish.
“Yeah, I mean to go to the playoff was one of our three targets that we are having in this summer with the Black Queens,” Björkegren said after the game. “The game is the best that we have played – the only thing I can be disappointed over is the fact that we were nervous in the end. We should close this game way earlier.”
The numbers told the story of Ghana’s control. According to Björkegren, the Black Queens created an expected goals tally of almost 3.3 compared to Mali’s 0.6.
“We’re having like an xG – there is a 3.3 almost against 0.6. I mean, it’s a normal game that you win with 3-0 or something like that,” he explained. “But in the end, you need to be nervous. So that’s the only thing I can complain about, otherwise I think we played really good football.”
Björkegren was particularly pleased with the opening 45 minutes, calling it the best half of football Ghana have produced in Morocco.
“I think we were ready from the start today. The first half, like I said, this is probably the best one we have played. But at the end of the day, we needed one point and we took it and now we are in a good position.”
Finishing second in Group C sends Ghana through to the quarterfinals, and with it, within touching distance of a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Because this quarterfinal is only one game from the World Cup,” Björkegren stressed. The Black Queens will now shift focus to the knockout stage, where victory would book Ghana’s place at the global showpiece and complete the second of the coach’s three summer targets.
Ghana’s progression marks a strong response after earlier tournament pressure, and Björkegren will hope his side can turn dominance into goals when the stakes get even higher in the last eight.
