Interim Black Stars head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has urged his players to improve their finishing and overall attacking efficiency ahead of Monday’s return encounter against Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ghana defeated the Ocean Stars 2-0 at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi on Thursday, but the Swedish tactician believes his side must be more ruthless in front of goal after wasting several scoring opportunities, including a penalty.
Despite the victory, Björkegren admitted that Ghana’s inability to convert the numerous chances created was an area of concern that must be addressed before the next fixture.
“I am happy with what the boys did. However, we can improve in many aspects of today’s game, especially in terms of taking our chances. It is something we must work on ahead of the next fixture,” he said.
The coach also attributed Ghana’s relatively slow start to the difficult playing conditions, suggesting that the weather affected the players’ ability to maintain the required intensity during the opening half.
“We lacked intensity during the first half, with the conditions also making it difficult for the players. We were struggling a little bit. I don’t know if the heat was too much, but the intensity was a bit low in the first half,” Björkegren explained.
He was, however, more satisfied with the team’s response after the break, when the Black Stars increased their tempo, showed greater attacking intent and created more opportunities.
While acknowledging the improvement, the Swedish coach insisted that Ghana must become quicker in possession and improve the speed at which the team transitions from defence to attack.
“Despite the improved display, I believe there is room for improvement, particularly in how quickly we transition the ball. I think we can move the ball a bit faster than we did, especially in the first half. But I respect the effort because the heat made it difficult to play,” he added.
Björkegren further disclosed that the technical team had gained valuable insight into Somalia after Thursday’s meeting, having initially admitted to having limited information about their opponents before the first encounter.
He expressed confidence that the Black Stars would produce a better performance when the two sides meet again on Monday.
“We did not have that much information about Somalia ahead of this game, now we have a fair idea about them, and I absolutely think we can do better in the next game.”
Ghana will be looking to build on Thursday’s victory and secure another important result as they continue their campaign for qualification to the 2027 AFCON tournament.
