Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren says Ghana is bracing for a difficult semi-final clash against host nation Morocco in the ongoing 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ghana booked their place in the last four after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Algeria on Saturday night, setting up a high-stakes meeting with the tournament hosts on Tuesday, July 22.
Speaking after the game, Coach Bjorkegren admitted the path ahead will be challenging, particularly with the added pressure of travelling to Rabat for the next match.
“Here and now, we need to enjoy the victory and celebrate a little bit tonight, but of course it’s going to be tough to play the semi-final far away from here,” he said.
He noted the limited recovery time and long travel as hurdles the team will need to overcome quickly.
“I guess it’s going to be breakfast tomorrow, a little bit of recovery training and then the bus to Rabat. That’s probably going to take the whole day,” he explained. “Then it’s just one day of recovery training in Rabat and then it’s game again.”
While acknowledging the tight schedule, the coach remains focused on preparation and recovery, stressing the role of his medical team in getting the players ready.
“Of course, I wish that we had one or two more days, but that’s life as a football player and coach,” he said. “To mentally recover and for them, maybe more physical recovery, and then be ready to do everything we can in the semi-final. Of course, it’s going to be a hard job for our medical team now to help the players to be as ready as possible.”
Ghana’s clash with Morocco in the 2024 WAFCON semi-final will be played on Tuesday, July 22.
