Omanghana
ACCRA, Ghana — Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, the Black Queens, has stepped up preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as the squad seeks to re-establish itself among the continent’s leading football powers.
Managed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Black Queens remain one of Africa’s most historic women’s football teams and are currently focused on building momentum ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive continental campaign.
Ranked 59th in the world and third in Africa in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, the team is undergoing an intensive training program aimed at sharpening tactics, improving fitness levels, and strengthening team cohesion before the start of the tournament.
The national team is currently under the leadership of Swedish head coach Kim Björkegren, who was appointed to guide Ghana back to the top tier of African women’s football.
Since taking charge, Björkegren has emphasized tactical discipline, squad development, and competitive preparation as part of a long-term strategy to transform the Black Queens into serious contenders on the continental stage.
Following Ghana’s withdrawal from a planned three-nation tournament in Tanzania, the coaching staff opted to organize an intensive training camp at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra throughout June 2026.
The camp includes a series of localized friendly matches designed to keep players match-ready, including a fixture against reigning domestic champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies.
The Black Queens recently received encouragement from one of Ghana’s most celebrated football figures, former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan.
Gyan visited the team’s training base in his role as National Teams Ambassador, interacting with players and technical staff while offering words of motivation ahead of the team’s upcoming assignments.
His visit forms part of broader efforts by the Ghana Football Association to strengthen support structures around the national teams and inspire athletes representing the country on the international stage.
The centerpiece of the Black Queens’ 2026 calendar is the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 25 to August 16, 2026.
The tournament represents not only Africa’s premier women’s football competition but also a crucial pathway toward qualification for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ghana has been drawn into a challenging Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle for advancement to the knockout rounds.
Football analysts expect the group to be among the most competitive at the tournament, with several teams arriving in strong form and seeking qualification for the global showpiece.
The Black Queens are widely regarded as pioneers of women’s football in Africa and boast one of the continent’s richest histories in the women’s game.
Ghana qualified for three consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cups in 1999, 2003, and 2007, becoming one of Africa’s most recognizable representatives on the global stage during that era.
The team also enjoyed significant success at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as runners-up on three occasions in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
Despite those achievements, Ghana has spent recent years striving to return to the heights that once made the Black Queens a dominant force in African football.
As preparations intensify for WAFCON 2026, optimism is growing that the current squad can help usher in a new era of success for Ghanaian women’s football.
With an experienced coaching team, growing institutional support, and a blend of emerging and established talent, the Black Queens enter the tournament with ambitions of making a deep run and reasserting Ghana’s place among Africa’s elite.
The upcoming competition in Morocco will provide the clearest indication yet of how far the team has progressed—and whether the Black Queens are ready to write the next chapter in their proud football history.
Source: Omanghana
