Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has lavished praise on captain Portia Boakye, describing her as his “extra arm” following Ghana’s qualification for the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Swedish tactician believes Boakye’s leadership, experience and influence have been crucial to Ghana’s progress at the tournament, both on and off the pitch.
Björkegren says the veteran defender has played a key role in communicating his instructions to the players and leading by example, making his work on the touchline much easier.
Speaking after Ghana secured their place in the last eight, the Black Queens coach highlighted the trust he has in his captain, saying she often understands what needs to be done without requiring detailed instructions from the technical team.
“She means so much. She’s like the extra arm for me, really helpful. Sometimes I don’t need to say too much. She can do it for me. And that’s the kind of captain that you want,” Björkegren said.
The coach also praised Boakye’s remarkable work rate and fighting spirit, describing her as a player who is willing to battle for every ball and put her body on the line for the team.
Her determination, according to Björkegren, has also inspired her teammates and set the standard for the rest of the squad.
“But also, I mean, the most important is how she’s leading on the pitch with her fighting spirit. I mean, she’s brutal. I mean, she really puts her body there. And she’s a real fighter,” he added.
Björkegren further pointed to the respect Boakye commands within the Black Queens dressing room, citing the reaction of her teammates when she was named Player of the Match during the group stage.
The coach said the celebrations that followed demonstrated just how highly regarded the captain is and how much her teammates appreciate her contribution to the team.
“And the way she’s playing, of course, everybody needs to respect her, and everybody does. And as you said, you can see when she is the player of the match that everybody is so happy for her because it’s so well deserved,” he concluded.
Ghana will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, where they will face Malawi as they continue their pursuit of a first WAFCON title.
The Black Queens will also be aiming to advance deep into the competition and strengthen their hopes of securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.