Black Stars interim head coach Kim Lars Björkegren believes Ghana must improve their ball movement despite securing a 2-0 victory over Somalia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Thursday.
Ghana recorded their first win of the qualifying campaign at the Essipong Sports Stadium, with Jonas Adjetey and Felix Afena-Gyan finding the net to secure all three points for the hosts.
Despite the victory, Björkegren was not entirely satisfied with his side’s performance, identifying the slow circulation of the ball, particularly in the first half, as an area that requires improvement.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, the Swedish tactician acknowledged that Ghana could have moved the ball with greater speed but was also quick to commend his players for their determination, especially given the challenging weather conditions.
“I think we can play the ball a bit faster than we did, especially in the first half. But I respect the effort because the heat makes it difficult to play,” he said.
The Black Stars showed greater urgency after the break, improving their attacking play, creating more opportunities and increasing the intensity of their performance to seal a comfortable victory.
With the first-leg encounter now behind them, Björkegren will be looking for further improvements when Ghana face Somalia again in the return fixture on Monday, November 16, as they aim to build on their winning momentum.
The victory ended Ghana’s eight-match winless run in AFCON qualifying and provided a much-needed confidence boost following consecutive defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia in their opening two matches of the 2027 qualifying campaign.
