Interim Black Stars coach Kim Lars Björkegren says Ghana must take all six points from their double-header against Somalia to revive their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification hopes.
Ghana host Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday, November 12, before the two sides meet again at the same venue on Monday, November 16. Both teams have lost their opening two Group C matches and are yet to record a point.
Björkegren, who is preparing for his first matches in charge of the Black Stars, says Ghana must focus on securing victory in Thursday’s encounter before turning their attention to the return fixture.
“It’s super clear. It’s not a secret that we need six points, but we need to take it. It’s old school, but we need to take the game tomorrow to start with,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
The Swedish coach has warned his players against underestimating Somalia, citing their narrow defeat to group leaders Ivory Coast as evidence of their threat.
“They were really close to take a point there. They had a great fighting spirit. They make it difficult for the opponent, so we need to respect them, but in the same way, believing in ourselves,” he added.
Björkegren is also banking on the experience of senior players to guide the team through a difficult period, while encouraging them to express themselves on the pitch.
He believes the players have responded positively to his first training camp, but insists collective effort will be key to securing the results Ghana need.
The Black Stars sit bottom of Group C without a point following defeats to Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The double-header against Somalia presents the team with an opportunity to revive their qualification campaign.
