Ghana’s hopes of returning to the Africa Cup of Nations are hanging by a thread, and the man handed the responsibility of rescuing the Black Stars from their latest qualification crisis has very little time to prove himself. Swedish tactician Kim Lars Björkegren has stepped into a troubled national team at a moment when confidence is low, expectations are high and another failure to reach the continental showpiece would deepen the country’s footballing embarrassment.
After missing the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Ghana are once again staring at the possibility of an early qualification disaster. The Black Stars have lost their opening two Group C matches, falling 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering a humiliating 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia after taking a two-goal lead.
Those results forced the departure of Carlos Queiroz and prompted the Ghana Football Association, in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, to appoint Björkegren as interim head coach for the November fixtures against Somalia.
The question now is whether the Swedish coach possesses the tactical understanding, leadership and ability to manage the pressure surrounding Ghana’s senior men’s team to restore belief and keep the AFCON 2027 dream alive.
A rescue mission with almost no room for failure
Björkegren’s assignment is straightforward in its demands but difficult in its execution: Ghana must collect maximum points from the two matches against Somalia to revive their campaign.
The Black Stars are bottom of Group C without a point, while Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia have both collected six points from their opening two matches.
The pressure is therefore enormous. Ghana cannot afford to approach the Somalia double-header casually or underestimate an opponent equally desperate for its first points.
Björkegren himself has acknowledged the importance of the assignment. Ahead of the first encounter, he made it clear that Ghana needed all six points but insisted that Somalia deserved respect.
“It’s not a secret that we need all six points, but we need to respect Somalia,” he said.
His message suggests an understanding of the immediate responsibility. However, delivering those points will require more than confidence at a press conference. The Black Stars must demonstrate organisation, discipline, determination and a clear playing identity on the pitch.
The Björkegren appointment: An opportunity or a gamble?
One of the most interesting aspects of the appointment is Björkegren’s existing involvement in Ghanaian football.
The Swedish coach is also in charge of the Black Queens, Ghana’s senior women’s national team. His familiarity with Ghanaian football and some of its structures may offer an advantage as he takes charge of the men’s team.
However, coaching the Black Queens and managing the Black Stars are two different responsibilities, each with its own demands, expectations and pressures.
The men’s national team carries enormous public scrutiny, with millions of supporters expecting immediate results. The coach must also manage players competing in different leagues, deal with varying tactical backgrounds and build a team capable of delivering under intense pressure.
Björkegren’s appointment is also temporary. The Ghana Football Association has made it clear that the arrangement covers the November international fixtures while the search for a substantive head coach continues.
That raises an important question: can a coach appointed for a short assignment establish enough authority and tactical direction to rescue a team already struggling for confidence?
Limited preparation, enormous expectations
Björkegren has admitted that his preparation time has been limited.
He took charge following Queiroz’s departure and had only a short period to assess the players, communicate his ideas and prepare the team for the Somalia encounter.
He explained that he had watched some players in Europe, contacted members of the squad by telephone and held only a limited number of training sessions after the players assembled in Ghana.
That is hardly ideal preparation for a national team facing a qualification crisis.
Nevertheless, international football often requires coaches to work with limited training time. The ability to identify the team’s immediate weaknesses, simplify tactical instructions and get players to execute a clear plan can be just as important as introducing an elaborate system.
Björkegren must therefore avoid attempting to change everything within a few days. His immediate responsibility is to make Ghana more organised, protect the defence and ensure the team’s attacking players receive the support needed to create and convert chances.
Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram: The local experience behind the Swede
Björkegren will not be working alone. He has been supported by former Ghana international Ibrahim Tanko and former Black Stars player Godwin Attram as assistant coaches, with Fatawu Dauda serving as goalkeepers coach.
The combination brings different football experiences to the technical team.
Tanko’s experience as a former international and coach can help bridge the gap between the technical team’s plans and the realities of Ghanaian football. Attram also brings knowledge of the local game, while Dauda’s experience as a former national-team goalkeeper is relevant to a side that has conceded six goals in two qualifiers.
Their contribution could be particularly important because Björkegren is still familiarising himself with the senior men’s squad.
The technical team’s challenge is to work as a unit, communicate effectively and ensure the players understand what is expected of them.
A stronger squad, but will the performances improve?
Björkegren has named a 26-man squad that includes several experienced players returning to the Black Stars.
Captain Jordan Ayew is back after recovering from injury, while Mohammed Kudus returns following an extended absence. Thomas Partey, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Mohammed Salisu and Alidu Seidu also strengthen the available options.
The inclusion of five Ghana Premier League players is another notable feature of the selection, offering an opportunity for domestic-based footballers to demonstrate their quality at international level.
On paper, the squad has experience, attacking talent and defensive options. But Ghana’s recent problems have shown that assembling recognised names does not automatically produce a functioning team.
The players must take responsibility for their performances. They must defend collectively, support one another and show the determination required to represent a country with four AFCON titles.
Kudus’ creativity, Jordan Ayew’s experience, Partey’s midfield qualities and the defensive presence of Salisu could all be valuable. The coach’s task is to turn those individual qualities into a coherent team performance.
The biggest problem: Ghana’s defensive collapse
The defeat to The Gambia exposed a serious weakness that Björkegren cannot afford to overlook.
Ghana scored twice through Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan but surrendered their advantage and eventually lost 4-2.
It was not simply a disappointing result. It raised questions about the team’s concentration, defensive organisation, communication and ability to manage a match after taking control.
A national team cannot expect to qualify for a major tournament while repeatedly giving opponents opportunities to punish defensive mistakes.
Björkegren must establish a more compact defensive structure and ensure that the midfield and attack contribute to protecting the team when possession is lost.
The return of Salisu and Seidu provides additional defensive options, but the solution must be collective. Individual defenders cannot be expected to cover every weakness in the team’s organisation.
Can he restore the Black Stars’ identity?
Beyond the immediate results, Ghana need a team that supporters can recognise and believe in.
The Black Stars have struggled to produce consistent performances, and the departure of Queiroz has added another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult period.
Supporters want a team that plays with purpose, competes for every ball, creates meaningful chances and demonstrates the discipline expected at international level.
Björkegren must begin rebuilding that identity. He does not necessarily need to introduce complicated tactics immediately, but he must give the players a clear understanding of their responsibilities.
The Somalia matches offer the first opportunity to see whether he can achieve that.
Is Björkegren the right man?
It would be premature to declare Björkegren the answer to all of Ghana’s footballing problems after only a short preparation period and an interim appointment covering two fixtures.
His experience with the Black Queens, his work with the local assistant coaches and his opportunity to select a squad containing several returning senior players provide a foundation.
However, his success will ultimately be judged by performances and results.
The Somalia double-header is the immediate examination. Ghana need six points, but the manner in which those points are secured will also matter. Supporters want victories, but they equally want to see a team that has learnt from its previous mistakes.
If Björkegren can restore defensive stability, improve the team’s attacking organisation and deliver the required results, he will have given Ghana’s qualification campaign a lifeline.
If the Black Stars fail again, the pressure on the technical leadership and football authorities will intensify.
The verdict: Results must speak for him
Kim Lars Björkegren has inherited a difficult assignment, not a settled team. He has limited preparation time, a wounded dressing room and a country demanding an immediate response.
His appointment may provide the temporary direction Ghana need, but it cannot by itself guarantee a return to the Africa Cup of Nations.
The responsibility is shared by the coach, his assistants, the players and the football authorities. Ghana must address the problems that have contributed to consecutive qualification disappointments rather than treating every coaching change as a complete solution.
For now, Björkegren has an opportunity to become the man who stopped the Black Stars’ AFCON 2027 campaign from collapsing.
But opportunity and achievement are two different things.
The Swedish tactician must now turn his words into results. Ghana’s AFCON dream cannot survive another costly setback.
