2026 WAFCON: Ghana can reach WAFCON knockout stage - Kim Lars Björkegren after loss to Cameroon

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren believes Ghana remain firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), insisting his side can qualify if they reproduce the level of performance shown in the second half of their defeat to Cameroon.

Ghana suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon in their second Group D fixture at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday, ending their unbeaten start to the tournament.

Despite the setback, Björkegren took encouragement from his team's response after the interval, admitting the Black Queens were below their usual standards in the opening half but showed significant improvement after the break.

“I still think we have a good chance if we play the way we did in the second half against Mali. I’m confident we’ll finish the group stage strongly," the Swedish trainer said.

The defeat leaves Ghana second in Group D with three points from two matches, keeping their qualification hopes in their own hands ahead of the final round of group fixtures.

The Black Queens will conclude their group-stage campaign against Mali on August 6, with both teams seeking a positive result to boost their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals.

A place in the last four of the tournament will also guarantee qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, adding further significance to Ghana's remaining matches.