Ghana interim coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren says the Black Stars must show greater intensity when they face Somalia again on Monday in their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign.
Ghana ended a run of consecutive defeats with a 2-0 victory over Somalia at Sekondi Sports Stadium on Thursday, but Bjorkegren believes there is still room for improvement before the return fixture.
The win moved Ghana on to three points in Group C, although they remain third and need another victory on Monday to strengthen their hopes of qualification.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bjorkegren said Ghana had been too slow in possession, particularly during the opening half.
“Yeah I think we can play the ball a bit faster than we did especially in the first half. But I respect the effort because the heat makes it not easy to play.”
The interim coach also identified Ghana’s finishing as another area that needs attention after the team failed to make the most of its opportunities.
“Of course we can improve on many aspects from today’s game especially in terms of taking our chances,” he concluded.
Ghana’s victory was their first after two successive losses, providing relief as they attempt to keep pace in a group led by Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast strengthened their position at the top with a 2-1 win over The Gambia in the other Group C match on Thursday. The result took Ivory Coast’s total to nine points, while The Gambia remain second.
The Black Stars now have the opportunity to close the gap when they meet Somalia for a second time on Monday. Another win would improve their position, but Bjorkegren has warned that Ghana must play with greater speed and be more clinical in front of goal.
The two teams’ first meeting ended with Ghana holding a two-goal advantage, but the coach’s comments indicate that the performance, rather than only the result, will need to improve in the next match.
