27-6-2025
As the Super Falcons prepare to take on their West African rivals in a friendly ahead of the Women African Cup of Nations in Morocco on Sunday, Ghana coach Kim Lars Björkegren, has admitted that the game will be a tough test for his side.
The Black Queens have already played two friendly matches against Malawi and Benin, which have served as an opportunity to assess the team’s current standing and identify areas for improvement. But according to coach Lars Björkegren, Nigeria a worthy opponent that will test the real ability of the Black Queens who have struggled in Africa in recent times.
“With full respect to Malawi and Benin, Nigeria is one step up. One of the best teams in Africa with good players in almost every position. The game against Nigeria is going to be a very, very tough game. But that’s also what we need now because we have shown that our lowest level is high enough. We know that we can score goals, and we have built a good defence, so it’s going to be fun to match up against one of the best teams.” he told Ghana Football Association Communications
Nigeria, nine-time African champions, begin their WAFCON quest on July 6 against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium. Fixtures against Botswana and Algeria follow in Group B.
Since the tournament’s inception in 1998, the Super Falcons have never failed to reach the semi-finals, lifting the trophy a record nine times.
For Ghana, who finished runners-up in 1998 and 2002 — losing both times to Nigeria — Sunday’s friendly presents a golden opportunity to prove they are ready to step out of Nigeria’s long-standing shadow and mount a serious challenge for their first continental title.