Ghana coach wary of WAFCON newcomers Cape Verde

The Black Queens take on the Blue Sharks at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

Speaking to the media, Björkegren says they know how passionate Cape Verdens can be, looking at how their men’s team performed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"It's gonna be a tough one, the first one, it's the first time for Cape Verde in the WAFCON, so they will for sure play with a lot of passion. We saw the men's team do the same thing in the World Cup,” Björkegren said. 

“So we are expecting a tough game but at the same time we believe in ourselves and hopefully we can start our tournament with a win, that's our target."

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Ghana returned to the WAFCON in the 2024 edition after missing out in 2022 and finished as bronze medallists.

The former Racing Louisville  coach says he is happy most of his players now have experience in the WAFCON.

“They are in a similar situation that we had one year ago and to be honest  I think it was the last time we didn't perform that well in the first half against South Africa in the first game,” he said.

“I think we had people who were a little bit nervous to be honest, now looking back. I think we had 18 or 19 players who were playing the WAFCON for the very first time, now it's gonna be the opposite, that we have more experience in this group. “We had a good tournament a year ago, now when I look at my players I don't think they will be nervous, they know what they need to do. They know what to deliver."