2026 WAFCON: I really wanted to help Black Queens secure automatic World Cup qualification - Kim Lars Björkegren after Black Queens' loss to Malawi

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has expressed his disappointment after Ghana missed out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ghana’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) were ended on Sunday after the Black Queens suffered a 2-1 defeat to Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.

The result secured Malawi’s place in the last four and handed them the final automatic qualification slot for next year’s Women’s World Cup.

Ghana will now have to go through the play-off route to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Björkegren admitted the defeat was particularly painful, saying he had hoped to lead the Black Queens to their first World Cup appearance in two decades.

“Potentially the worst feeling I had in 20 years of coaching. I’m feeling so much for this team, for Ghana," the Swedish trainer told the media after the game.

"I really wanted to help them to go to the first World Cup in 20 years, and we felt that we had a good chance to do it…but we didn’t perform well enough,” Bjorkegren added.

The Black Queens must now quickly regroup as they prepare for a crucial WAFCON play-in against Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, August 13.

Victory in that encounter will secure Ghana a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 global showpiece.