WAFCON 2024: We can beat Morocco if we push ourselves - Lars Björkegren

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has urged his players to dig deep and push harder as they prepare for a crucial semi-final showdown against hosts Morocco in the 2025 African Women’s Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

Following a hard-fought victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals, Ghana now faces one of their toughest challenges yet—overcoming the host nation to book a spot in the final.

Looking ahead to the game, Björkegren drew on past encounters and expressed belief in his squad’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“It was a tight game. We had our chance to win in the end—we lost in the last minute, if I remember right. It ended 0-0, but we saw we had the chance to win that kind of game as well,” he said, reflecting on a previous meeting with Morocco.

The Swedish tactician acknowledged the strength of the Moroccan side, praising their balance across all departments.

“Of course, we know they have quality — in defense, midfield, attack, and they also have a decent goalkeeper.”

However, Björkegren hinted that his team would target Morocco’s vulnerabilities.

“Like all teams, they have some weaknesses too. So we just need to push harder and, hopefully, have a good game tomorrow.”

He also pointed out the physical and tactical demands of tournament football, particularly the rapid turnaround between games.

“That’s the biggest challenge. You have a long preparation time, but once the tournament starts, everything moves really fast. That’s very different from coaching a club team.”

Ghana aims to reach the final for the first time since 2006. A victory against Morocco would lead the Black Queens to compete against the winner of the other semi-final match between South Africa and Nigeria.