Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, continued their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Ghana Women’s Premier League champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in a friendly match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday.
The friendly formed part of the team’s June camping programme under head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, who recently named a 22-player squad for the FIFA international window as preparations intensify for the continental showpiece in Morocco.
The Black Queens delivered an encouraging performance against Ampem Darkoa, with goals from Evelyn Badu, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Stella Nyamekye, and Mavis Owusu securing a comfortable victory. Ghana dominated possession throughout the encounter and created numerous chances, offering further evidence of the team’s growing confidence and tactical cohesion.
The match became even more significant following the cancellation of the Black Queens’ planned participation in a three-nation tournament in Tanzania. The competition, which was scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam from June 1 to June 9 and feature Tanzania, Malawi, and Ghana, had been expected to provide valuable competitive action ahead of WAFCON 2026.
Despite the setback, the Ghana Football Association and the technical team have continued to seek alternative preparations to ensure the squad remains on course ahead of the tournament. The friendly against Ampem Darkoa provided another important opportunity for Coach Björkegren to assess player fitness, evaluate tactical combinations, and strengthen competition within the squad.
The Swedish tactician has been steadily building his team since Ghana secured a third-place finish at the previous edition of WAFCON, with the ultimate objective of mounting a serious challenge for the title in Morocco.
Friday’s convincing victory will serve as a major boost for the Black Queens as they continue their journey toward the continental championship. With experienced internationals and emerging talents impressing in camp, the signs remain positive for a side determined to re-establish itself among Africa’s elite women’s national teams.
With the 2026 WAFCON set to run from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco, every training session and friendly match has become crucial as Coach Kim Lars Björkegren continues to shape his squad ahead of Africa’s biggest women’s football tournament.
