Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has urged his players to show courage, self-belief, and relentless work ethic as Ghana prepare for Tuesday night’s high-stakes friendly against the England Lionesses at St Mary’s Stadium.
Addressing journalists ahead of the clash, the Swedish coach pointed to England’s recent demolition of China as a reminder of what happens when teams allow fear to dictate their performance.
“England were excellent in that game, and China are a strong side,” he said. “They’re ranked 16th in the world—we’re 67th—so I can’t criticise them too harshly. But they approached the match with too much fear. If you step onto the pitch scared of England, they will punish you. That’s exactly what happened.”
Björkegren stressed that Ghana cannot afford to adopt the same mindset.
“We have to approach this game in a completely different way,” he insisted. “We believe in who we are. We have tough, committed players who will fight for every ball and every duel. Our goal is always to win. Whether people think that’s realistic is not important to me.”
He praised the spirit within his squad, highlighting the collective identity he expects the Queens to display under the lights in Southampton.
“What I love about this team is how hard they work and how big they dream — and they do it together,” Björkegren said. “Fans will see a team that leaves everything on the pitch. Whatever the result, if we stay brave and give our all, people will know we did something right.”
Ghana take on the Lionesses on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM in what will be one of their most challenging and high-profile fixtures in recent years.
