Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren says his side is bracing for a tough encounter when they take on Mali in their second Group C fixture at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ghana faces a must-win scenario on Friday, July 11, after falling 2-0 to defending champions South Africa in their opening match. A victory against Mali is crucial to keep the Queens’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.
Speaking ahead of the game, Björkegren acknowledged the quality of the opposition but expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and mentality.
“We’re up against a strong team with some very good attacking players,” he said.
“It’s going to be a difficult and tricky match. But we’ve done our homework, we’ve spent a lot of time analysing their strengths and weaknesses.”
Despite the pressure, the Swedish coach stressed the importance of sticking to their game plan.
“At the end of the day, we believe in ourselves. The key is to approach the game with our identity and style of play. That’s what matters most,” he added.
The Group C clash is scheduled to kick off at 16:00 GMT at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.
The Black Queens, three-time WAFCON finalists, will wrap up their group campaign against Tanzania.
