Black Stars interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has challenged his players to secure another victory over Somalia on Monday as Ghana look to collect maximum points from their November double-header and revive their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.
Ghana will host Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium in the return fixture after recording a 2-0 victory in the first encounter on Thursday.
Goals from Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan secured the important win for the Black Stars, giving them renewed hope after a difficult start to their qualifying campaign.
With Monday’s fixture presenting another opportunity to improve their position in Group C, Björkegren has made it clear that nothing less than another victory will satisfy him.
The Swedish tactician believes collecting all six points from the two matches is crucial for Ghana’s ambitions, particularly after the team failed to earn a point from their opening two qualifying games.
“The most important thing is to make sure we take six points in this camp,” he said.
Björkegren is also expecting a more determined performance from his players in the return fixture, urging them to approach the game with intensity and take advantage of the scoring opportunities that come their way.
According to the coach, a strong start will be important in helping Ghana establish control of the encounter and put themselves in a good position to secure another win.
“I do think the most important thing is to start strongly and take our chances. Then maybe we can think about scoring three goals or more,” he added.
The Black Stars will be hoping to build on the confidence gained from Thursday’s victory, although the coaching staff will be aware that another disciplined performance will be required to overcome the Somali side.
Beyond the immediate challenge of securing qualification, Björkegren has expressed confidence in the quality and potential within the Ghana squad, insisting that the team has what it takes to compete for the AFCON title if they successfully make it to the tournament.
He believes the players possess the individual and collective qualities needed to challenge some of Africa’s strongest national teams.
“The potential in the group is huge and so high, and I think if we qualify for the AFCON, we can go all the way. But it’s so hard to do, and hopefully, we can win tomorrow to make it six points and get back on track,” he said.
His comments reflect the confidence he has in the squad, but the coach remains conscious of the difficult task ahead, particularly given Ghana’s disappointing start to the qualifying series.
The four-time African champions entered the November international window under pressure after suffering defeats in their opening two Group C matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia.
Those results left Ghana without a point and placed their qualification ambitions in a difficult position, making the two fixtures against Somalia particularly important.
Thursday’s victory provided some relief and offered the team an opportunity to regain confidence, but another three points on Monday would be an important step towards improving their standing in the group.
For Björkegren, the priority is to ensure that the players maintain their concentration, show greater attacking efficiency and avoid giving Somalia opportunities to make the contest difficult.
The return fixture is therefore expected to be an important test of Ghana’s ability to build consistency and translate their quality into results.
With the backing of their home supporters, the Black Stars will be looking to deliver another convincing performance and complete the November double-header with maximum points.
A second consecutive victory would not only strengthen Ghana’s position in the qualifying campaign but also provide the team with a much-needed boost as they continue their pursuit of a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
