Ghana head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren says the Black Queens must improve again when they face Cameroon on Sunday in a demanding Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) group match.
Bjorkegren believes Ghana’s opening victory has given them a platform to build on, but expects Cameroon to provide a significantly tougher test. He praised his squad’s organisation and defensive strength while acknowledging that they must be more efficient in front of goal.
“We did what we should in the first game. We took the three points and we moved on,” Bjorkegren said. “We did good things. We did things that we can learn from and improve. Tomorrow, with respect for Cameroon, it’s going to be one level up, I expect.”
Cameroon, he said, possess a combination of experienced players, quality and youthful energy. The coach also believes Dimitri’s arrival in the team could make their opponents more organised.
“We’re going to play against a good Cameroon team. A Cameroon team with experienced players, with quality. They have a good balance. They also have young, hungry players,” he said.
“I know Dimitri has also been coming into the team. I guess that will help them as well they’re going to be potentially more organised. I think it’s going to be a tough one, but like always, I’m starting to know the girls very well now and I believe in them.”
Despite the quality of the opposition, Bjorkegren said he does not feel weighed down by pressure. Instead, he expects Ghana to perform well against a stronger challenge, pointing to their previous results against high-level opponents.
“I also know when the opponent is more difficult to play against, it normally means that we play a better game. For me personally, pressure doesn’t exist,” he said.
The coach said Ghana had developed a strong collective identity, with a defence that is difficult to break down and reliable goalkeepers behind it.
“I actually think that we are in a good place, the whole group, including the most important the players. We have built something that we are proud of. We are well organised. It’s difficult normally to score against us,” he said.
“We have a really strong collective defence, I would say, good goalkeepers as well. So, we believe in ourselves and we know that our highest potential has always been good, since the first day that I came in, at least, what I know. But I think the lowest level has been up it’s just been getting better and better.”
Bjorkegren cited Ghana’s performances against England and Russia as evidence that his players respond positively when tested. They held their own away against England, whom he described as one of the best teams in the world, and beat Russia 4-0.
“Every time when we get tests, we actually step up and prove that we are even better than we maybe thought. And I hope it’s going to be the same thing tomorrow,” he added.
However, he warned that Ghana cannot afford a slow start and must be prepared from the opening whistle, with both teams aware that victory would strengthen their chances of progressing to the next stage.
“Nothing comes for free. We need to be out there. We need to be ready from the first second and take this good opportunity,” he said.
Ghana created 16 chances to Cape Verde’s one in their previous match and recorded an expected goals figure of more than four, but scored only twice. Bjorkegren said that conversion rate must improve against Cameroon, when similar opportunities are unlikely to be available.
“We can’t expect 16-1 in chances. So maybe we’ll cut that to eight and then we need to probably score more than one goal to maybe win the game,” he said.
He added that the team must focus solely on the present rather than past meetings or historical context between the nations.
“History will always be there, but as a coach and a player, you live here and now in this bubble,” Bjorkegren said. “But here and now, it’s all about performing tomorrow and doing the best in this tournament.”
