We need to be sad and disappointed- Black Queens Head Coach after AFCON semifinal loss

Black Queens Must Feel the Pain of Semifinal Defeat – Coach Kim Björkegren

By Emmanuel Austin Baah On Jul 23, 2025

Head coach of Ghana’s National Women’s Football Team, Kim Lars Björkegren, has urged his players to embrace the disappointment of their semi-final defeat at the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Black Queens were eliminated from the tournament after a 4-2 penalty shootout loss to host nation Morocco, despite a strong first-half performance that saw Stella Nyamekye give Ghana the lead.

Ghana began the second half in similar dominant fashion but were unable to convert their chances, allowing Morocco to draw level. Missed penalties by Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah ultimately cost the Black Queens a place in the final — a stage they have not reached since 2006.

Speaking after the match, Björkegren acknowledged the pain of the result and encouraged his players to fully feel the weight of the defeat, which he believes is part of their growth process.

“We surprised a lot of the other teams, but our goal in this group has always been to win the gold,” the Swedish coach said in a post-match press conference. “We need to be disappointed, cry a little bit… here and now I think we need to be a little bit sad and disappointed. I know it means a lot for many people.”

Ghana will now face South Africa in the third-place playoff on Friday, 25th July at 19:00 GMT, with a bronze medal still at stake.

Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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