Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has expressed unshakable confidence in the Black Queens following the draw for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), backing head coach Kim Lars Björkegren to lead the team to continental success and a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ghana were drawn in Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde for the tournament, set to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
The Black Queens, coming off a third-place finish at the last edition, aim to build on that momentum and challenge for the trophy.
Simeon-Okraku praised Björkegren’s leadership and tactical acumen, saying, “I think that the head coach is very experienced and able to guide the girls. I have no doubt whatsoever that we’ll compete and that we will make it to the World Cup.”
While acknowledging the weight of expectations, the GFA President emphasized focus and mental resilience as key to success.
“If it’s about pressure, there’s pressure everywhere—pressure in eating, pressure in laughing, pressure in having a conversation, and there’s pressure in sports.
Football is an emotive enterprise, but what’s most important is how you react, how you act, and how you handle such situations,” he stated.
Highlighting Ghana’s credentials on the African stage, Simeon-Okraku noted, “On the back of the fact that Ghana were third at the last WAFCON, Ghana should be ready to face any opponent.
The Black Queens should be able to play against any side on the African continent if you want to become a champion.”
The GFA President also made it clear that lifting the WAFCON trophy remains the ultimate goal. “The ambition of the nation is to win the trophy, and I think that we are not far away from that,” he said.
Beyond continental glory, the tournament offers a crucial pathway back to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with semi-finalists securing automatic qualification.
Ghana have not featured at the global showpiece since 2007, making the 2026 WAFCON a significant opportunity for the Black Queens to return to the world stage.
Defending champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons were drawn in a separate group alongside Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi, setting the stage for a highly competitive tournament in Morocco.
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