Ghana head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren believes the Black Queens have a strong chance of progressing to the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations if they reproduce their second-half display against Cameroon.
Ghana were beaten 1-0 by Cameroon in their second Group D match at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday. The result was their first defeat of the tournament, leaving them with three points from two games.
Despite the loss, Bjorkegren was encouraged by the way his team improved after the interval. He acknowledged that Ghana had not produced their best performance in the opening 45 minutes, but felt the response after half-time offered grounds for confidence ahead of their final group fixture.
“If we play as we did in the second half against Mali, we have a good chance of getting out of the group,” he said.
The Black Queens are currently second in Group D with three points. Their position means the outcome of their final match will be decisive as they look to secure a place in the knockout stages.
Ghana will complete their group-stage campaign against Mali on 6 August, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT. Both teams need a positive result to guarantee their qualification for the quarter-finals.
Bjorkegren’s side will therefore have to respond quickly to the defeat by Cameroon, with the coach identifying the second-half performance as the standard Ghana must reach in their final group game. The team’s ability to maintain that level could determine whether they advance beyond the group stage.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations also carries significance beyond the continental competition. The teams that reach the semi-finals will qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, adding further importance to Ghana’s meeting with Mali.
With three points already secured, Ghana remain in contention to progress, but their quarter-final place has not yet been confirmed. The Black Queens must now turn the renewed belief from their display after the break against Cameroon into a positive result when they face Mali on 6 August.
