Kim Lars Björkegren unfazed by pressure as Black Queens face Ivory Coast in crucial World Cup play-off

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren says he is feeling no pressure ahead of Ghana’s crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off against Ivory Coast on Thursday.

Ghana will meet their West African rivals in Casablanca, Morocco, with a place in the intercontinental play-offs at stake.

The encounter provides the Black Queens with another opportunity to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil alive after their automatic qualification hopes were ended by Malawi.

Ghana suffered a 2-1 defeat to Malawi in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, missing out on a direct route to the global tournament.

Despite the disappointment, Björkegren insists he remains calm ahead of the decisive fixture against Ivory Coast.

"For me personally, to be honest, no pressure at all,” Björkegren said during the pre-match conference.

"I do not feel pressure because if I feel pressure, I can't make the right decisions."

Björkegren, who has enjoyed a long career in both coaching and playing, said his experience has helped him deal with high-pressure situations.

"I have been in this game for 20 years as a coach and 10 years as a player; that is my whole life," the Swedish trainer added.

The stakes, however, remain high for Ghana, with victory over Ivory Coast required to secure progression to the intercontinental play-offs.

The winner will advance to the next stage, where they will compete against teams from other confederations for one of the remaining places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

For the Black Queens, the match represents a vital second chance after their hopes of automatic qualification were dashed by Malawi.

Ghana have not played at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since their last participation in 2007 and will be determined to end that long absence.