Ghanaian coaching instructor and assistant coach of the Sudanese national team, Ignatius Osei-Fosu, has sharply criticized the Ghana Football Association’s recent decision to appoint Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren as one of the assistant coaches for the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Osei-Fosu argues that this dual role creates an irreconcilable conflict of interest and divides the Swedish tactician’s attention at a critical juncture for both national teams.
Björkegren, who took charge of the Black Queens in January 2025, has quickly made a positive impact with the women’s senior side. His reputation received a significant boost in early March 2026 when he guided the Black Queens to a commanding 4-0 victory over Russia during the Pink Ladies Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
This result marked two wins from two games in the preparatory competition, with the team scoring eight goals and conceding none, showcasing strong momentum heading into major challenges.
The core issue stems from a major scheduling clash introduced by the recent postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Originally set for March to early April in Morocco, the continental championship was abruptly rescheduled by CAF to July 25 through August 16, 2026, due to unforeseen circumstances after consultations with FIFA and other stakeholders.
This new timeline overlaps directly with the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup period in North America (typically mid-June to mid-July, culminating around July 19 for the final), meaning Björkegren cannot realistically fulfill coaching duties for both the Black Queens at WAFCON and the Black Stars at the World Cup simultaneously.
Osei-Fosu has called for the GFA to revoke Björkegren’s Black Stars appointment entirely, insisting that the coach must concentrate solely on the Black Queens to maximize their chances of qualifying for the Women’s World Cup via a strong WAFCON performance. He views the arrangement as detrimental to the women’s program, especially given the team’s upward trajectory under Björkegren’s leadership.
This controversy also underscores broader tensions within the GFA’s ongoing technical restructuring for the senior men’s squad under head coach Otto Addo. While some figures, such as former GFA Vice President George Afriyie, have defended the move as a smart way to leverage Björkegren’s expertise without undermining his primary role, critics like Osei-Fosu see it as a risky compromise that could weaken preparation and focus for the Black Queens during a pivotal qualifying window.
The situation highlights the challenges of resource allocation and coaching bandwidth in Ghanaian football as both senior teams pursue ambitious international objectives in 2026.