The appointment of Kim Lars Bjorkegren as interim head coach of the Black Stars has raised concerns because his new assignment overlaps with his existing role as head coach of the Black Queens.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has asked the Swedish coach to lead Ghana in their crucial November double-header against Somalia. Black Stars assistant coach Godwin Attram and Ibrahim Tanko are expected to support him.
The decision was reportedly made on an interim basis by a committee of government and GFA representatives led by Fred Pappoe, while the search continues for a permanent successor.
The Black Stars are under pressure after losing their opening two Group C matches against The Gambia and Cote d’Ivoire in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. They must now beat Somalia in both games in November 2026 to revive their hopes of reaching the tournament.
A failure to collect maximum points could put Ghana at risk of missing the Africa Cup of Nations for a second successive time.
However, the matches coincide with a significant period for the Black Queens, who will be pursuing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in an intercontinental play-off tournament.
The preliminary phase of that competition is scheduled to run from November 24 to December 5, 2026. Ghana are among six teams competing for a place in the decisive stage of the qualification process.
The Black Queens will open their campaign against Ecuador, face Uzbekistan in their second match and complete the preliminary phase against Papua New Guinea.
Under the reported arrangement, Bjorkegren would first prepare the Black Stars for their two matches against Somalia before switching his attention to the women’s team and their World Cup qualification campaign.
That schedule presents a major logistical and sporting challenge, particularly because Ghana have a long-standing ambition to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.
It is not yet clear whether the GFA will appoint another coach to oversee the Black Queens during the play-off tournament. A change could affect preparations, especially given Bjorkegren’s knowledge of the squad and the work he has already done with the team.
Kim Lars Bjorkegren’s future with the Black Stars may also depend on the outcome of the Somalia double-header. Although his appointment is temporary, the results could influence whether he remains involved in the men’s team beyond those fixtures.
