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
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.
