The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially handed the Black Stars’ interim role to Sweden’s Kim Lars Björkegren, 44, already head coach of the Black Queens, following the termination of Carlos Queiroz’s contract. An interim appointment while a permanent head coach is named.
Two defeats, zero points, and a dugout with a new face. The GFA has officially confirmed the appointment of Sweden’s Kim Lars Björkegren, 44, at the helm of the men’s national team, the Black Stars, according to Afrique Sports. The move comes after the amicable termination of the contract of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, the former head coach, confirmed on 1 October 2026, as reported by Tribal Football.
The interim appointment will be made in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation as well as the GFA’s search committee, Foot-Africa.com specifies. The Nordic coach is therefore not arriving on unfamiliar ground: he was already part of the Black Stars’ backroom staff as an assistant during the 2026 World Cup preparation phase, according to Joy FM.
An interim role after two straight defeats
The Portuguese left his post after a disastrous record: two defeats in a row in 2027 AFCON qualifying, 2-0 against Ivory Coast in Bouaké, then 4-2 against Gambia in Accra, according to Tribal Football. A run that leaves Ghana bottom of Group C with not a single point, according to Flashscore.
It is in this context that Björkegren takes interim charge. The Swede will temporarily combine his roles: since January 2025 he has already held the position of head coach of Ghana’s women’s national team, the Black Queens, All Football reports.
Tanko, Attram and Dauda brought in
Ibrahim Tanko, the current Medeama SC coach, and Godwin Attram take the interim assistant roles, while Fatawu Dauda becomes goalkeeping coach, according to Foot-Africa.com. An expanded staff around the Swedish coach, whose international experience is varied: he has worked in Sweden (Linköpings FC, Malmö FF), China, Cyprus and the United States, according to All Football.
The five-member recruitment committee, chaired by Fred Pappoe, a former GFA vice-president, had pushed back the deadline for applications for the permanent job to 15 October 2026, Joy FM reports. Interviews with candidates for the permanent head coach role will continue throughout October and November 2026, according to the same source.
Somalia in their sights
The interim staff’s first assignment is already on the calendar: a 2027 AFCON qualifying double-header against Somalia, in November 2026 at the Accra Sports Stadium. Two matches to try to revive a campaign so far without a single point.
A permanent head coach is expected to be named at the end of the interviews, by the end of November 2026, according to Joy FM. Until then, Björkegren will combine both national teams.