Ghana’s interim technical team is expected to announce the Black Stars squad later this week ahead of the country’s crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Somalia.
The squad announcement will mark the beginning of a new era for the four-time African champions following the departure of head coach Carlos Queiroz after a disastrous start to the qualifying campaign.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, appointed an interim technical team to lead the Black Stars while the search for a permanent head coach continues.
Swedish trainer Kim Lars Björkegren will take charge of the team, assisted by Ibrahim Tanko and former Ghana international Godwin Attram, while ex-Black Stars goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda has been named goalkeepers’ trainer.
The interim coaching staff face an immediate challenge as they attempt to revive Ghana’s faltering qualification hopes.
The Black Stars are rooted to the bottom of Group C after losing their opening two matches. Ghana began the campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké before suffering a shock 4-2 home loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium despite taking an early two-goal lead.
Those disappointing results ultimately led to Queiroz’s resignation, with the GFA subsequently forming a five-member committee chaired by former vice-president Fred Pappoe to oversee the recruitment of a substantive head coach.
Attention has now shifted to the upcoming fixtures against Somalia, with both matches scheduled to be played in Ghana. The first encounter will take place on Thursday, November 12, before the reverse fixture follows four days later on November 16.
The two matches are regarded as must-win encounters for the Black Stars, who desperately need six points to reignite their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON.
Beyond their poor start to the current campaign, Ghana are also seeking to return to Africa’s biggest football tournament after failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco—the first time the nation had missed the competition in more than two decades.
With expectations high and little margin for error, all eyes will be on Björkegren and his interim technical team when they unveil the squad tasked with steering the Black Stars back on course.
