Sports World

The Black Stars finally know who will lead them into November's must-win Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation have appointed Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren to lead an interim technical team for the double-header against Somalia.

The interim team

According to a joint statement from the GFA, the Ministry and the Black Stars Coach Search Committee, Björkegren will be assisted by Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, with former Ghana goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda serving as goalkeepers' coach. Additional technical and support staff are expected to be added for the November international window.

The appointment was announced on Friday, October 16, and follows a recommendation from the search committee chaired by Fred Pappoe.

Why this team?

The committee said that after an extensive review and consultations with qualified candidates, it concluded that a complementary technical team offering continuity, experienced leadership and strategic direction was the best approach for this period of transition, as reported by GhanaWeb.

The GFA and the Ministry added that the group combines international experience, local knowledge and technical expertise, according to the Ghanaian Times.

Who are they?

Kim Lars Björkegren: the Swede is head coach of the Black Queens, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations and have just beaten Mauritius 10-0 on aggregate to reach the third round of Olympic qualifying. He will continue in that role.
Ibrahim Tanko: a former assistant coach of the Black Stars who has also led the Black Meteors, Ghana's Under-23 side, according to 3News. YEN.com.gh reports he is currently coaching Medeama SC, who top the Ghana Premier League.
Godwin Attram: the former Black Stars midfielder joined the senior team's technical staff as an assistant during the September window.
Fatawu Dauda: the former Ghana goalkeeper takes charge of the goalkeepers.

Only for November

The arrangement applies specifically to the two Somalia matches, the GFA said. The search committee will continue its work towards appointing a permanent head coach, with applications having closed on October 15 and shortlisting expected to continue through November.

What is at stake

Ghana have lost both of their opening Group C qualifiers, against Ivory Coast and The Gambia, and sit bottom of the group without a point. Anything less than two wins against Somalia, who are also yet to score a point, would leave the Black Stars facing the real prospect of missing a second successive Africa Cup of Nations.

The GFA, the Ministry and the committee have urged Ghanaians to rally behind the players and the interim team as they prepare for the November window.

Photo: Jeanpierrekepseu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0