The Ghanaian federation has officially handed the Black Stars to Swede Kim Lars Björkegren on an interim basis for the double-header against Somalia. Ghana are still on two defeats in CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has made its call: Kim Lars Björkegren, 44, will lead the Black Stars on an interim basis, the body announced, with the news carried by the Ghana News Agency. The Swedish coach, in charge of the Black Queens since January 2025, keeps his role with the women’s national team at the same time.
The appointment comes after the departure of coach Carlos Queiroz, following a disastrous start to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign. Ghana sit on zero points after two matchdays in Group C, with the country having not won the AFCON since 1982.
An interim role fitted around FIFA windows
The calendar partly explains the temporary double duty. Henry Asante Twum, the GFA’s communications director, explained to TV3 Ghana that the men’s FIFA window runs from 9 to 17 November 2026, while the women’s window runs from 24 November to 5 December 2026, making the dual role compatible over that period, according to Ghana Web.
The federation also set out its criteria, in comments reported by TV3 Ghana: “The first criterion was institutional memory and continuity. The second was to look within the Ghana Premier League. The third was to assess our national coaching setup and identify who had the required competence. The choice fell on Kim.”
The interim staff was unveiled shortly afterwards: Ibrahim Tanko, the Medeama SC coach, will assist Björkegren, Godwin Attram will also take an assistant role and Fatawu Dauda will be goalkeeping coach, according to the GNA.
Two defeats to start
The sporting context leaves no room for slip-ups. Ghana first lost 2-0 to Ivory Coast, before going down 4-2 to Gambia, according to Flashscore. Two matches, two defeats, and a tally stuck on zero points in Group C.
On the bench, coach Carlos Queiroz paid the price for that failed start, with his departure confirmed by the GNA and Ghana Web. The double-header against Somalia, scheduled from 9 to 17 November 2026, therefore looks decisive under intense public pressure for a country that has not lifted the continental trophy since 1982.
Björkegren arrives with a varied track record: he has coached Linköpings FC and Malmö FF in Sweden, among others, with spells in the United States, China and Cyprus, according to All Football.
A permanent boss expected for 2027
The interim arrangement does not settle the underlying question. The GFA’s recruitment committee is continuing its search in parallel to appoint a permanent head coach for 2027, allAfrica.com reports.