GhanaWeb Feature by Abigail Lanilord Lartey
Swiss coach Kim Lars Björkegren at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, transformed Ghana’s Black Queens into a formidable force, and also secured a bronze medal—their first major feat since 2016.
With a UEFA Pro Licence and a track record of success with Sweden’s Linköping FC, Björkegren brought a high-pressing, adaptable approach to a squad largely new to the tournament.
His tactical shifts from a shaky opening loss to South Africa to a triumphant 4-2 penalty shootout win in the bronze medal match showcased his strategic brilliance.
Learning from defeat in the Group C opener against defending champions South Africa, Björkegren deployed a 4-3-3 formation, emphasising high pressing and quick transitions to exploit South Africa’s defense.
The strategy aimed to disrupt their rhythm with aggressive midfield play and wing runs.
However, Ghana fell 2-0, as the high press left gaps in the backline, exposed by South Africa’s counterattacks.
Poor finishing and lapses in defensive organisation, particularly in marking during set pieces, cost them dearly.
“We had chances but didn’t convert,” Björkegren noted, pinpointing a lack of clinical edge.
For the second match against Mali, he retained the 4-3-3 but tweaked the midfield setup, introducing a more dynamic box-to-box player to bolster possession and support the press.
At halftime, winning 1-0, he shifted to a 4-2-3-1, sacrificing a winger for an attacking midfielder to create overloads centrally.
This adjustment led to a 1-1 draw, with Ghana dominating the second half and pushed for the win but Mali sustained the pressure.
Against Tanzania, Björkegren reverted to the 4-3-3, refining the press to be more compact and introducing a late substitute winger to maintain attacking intensity.
The result was a commanding 4-1 win, securing knockout qualification.
“We’re growing every game,” he said, emphasising the team’s adaptability.
In the quarterfinal against a disciplined Algeria side, Björkegren opted for a 4-2-3-1 to counter their organised defense.
The double pivot in midfield provided stability, allowing the attacking midfielder to exploit spaces behind Algeria’s backline.
At the 75th minute, he introduced a fresh winger to stretch the opposition, maintaining pressure in a 0-0 draw.
Ghana’s 4-2 penalty shootout win reflected their composure, a testament to Björkegren’s focus on mental resilience.
“They’re tough, but we stayed structured,” he remarked.
The semifinal against hosts Morocco saw Björкеgren return to the 4-3-3, leveraging insights from a prior 1-0 loss to them in January 2025.
He adjusted the press to target Morocco’s weaker left flank, leading to a first-half goal.
At the 65th minute, he subbed in a versatile midfielder to combat fatigue, and in the 80th minute, a defensive winger to shore up the flanks.
Despite a 1-1 draw, Ghana lost 4-2 in penalties, hampered by exhaustion from a tighter schedule.
“We dominated but ran out of gas,” Björkegren admitted, noting their superior expected goals.
Facing South Africa again in the third-place playoff, Björkegren stuck with the 4-3-3 but adjusted the defensive line to sit deeper, neutralising counterattacks that hurt them in the opener.
At the 60th minute, trailing 1-0, he introduced an attacking midfielder to spark creativity, leading to an equaliser.
In the 85th minute, a fresh winger maintained width, stretching South Africa’s defense.
The 1-1 draw culminated in a 4-3 shootout victory, avenging the group-stage loss.
“We learned from game one and executed perfectly,” Björkegren declared.
Björkegren’s high-pressing philosophy, flexible formations, and timely substitutions turned an inexperienced squad into a top-four African side.
His ability to address the defensive frailties and finishing woes from the South Africa loss through compact pressing and midfield tweaks was pivotal.
The Black Queens’ bronze medal marks a new era, driven by a coach whose tactical acumen shone brightly in Morocco.
ALL/VPO
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