Monica Bukari writes: The Black Stars need solutions, not another round of unnecessary controversy

Sometimes, we need to look beyond our emotions and personal preferences and consider the realities surrounding a decision.

We are not in normal times. The Black Stars are coming off two consecutive defeats in their opening 2027 AFCON qualifying matches against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia. Ghana lost 2-0 in Bouaké before suffering a 4-2 defeat at home, despite taking a two-goal lead.

That leaves us with an urgent assignment: get the team back on track and secure maximum points against Somalia in November.

Now, let’s consider the circumstances.

With a relatively short preparation window, which expatriate coach, arriving with limited knowledge of the current squad, can adequately study the players, assess their individual strengths, understand their relationships, and establish the tactical chemistry required to deliver in such crucial matches?

Football at this level is not simply about having an impressive CV or an international reputation. It is also about understanding the players, managing personalities, building relationships and getting the best out of the available talent.

You cannot expect a new coach to walk into a dressing room, meet players he barely knows, and magically establish the understanding and cohesion required to win two important qualifiers within a limited period.

And for those advocating a home-based coach, that argument is equally worth considering.

Ghana has talented local coaches who are capable of handling the Black Stars. However, we must also appreciate that managing the senior national team comes with a different level of responsibility, expectation, and pressure compared to managing our junior national teams.

The fact that our local coaches are talented does not automatically mean we should throw them into a high-pressure assignment of this magnitude without carefully considering the demands.

At this particular moment, we need results. We need two wins. We cannot afford an experiment that puts the team’s immediate objective at risk.

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT KIM LARS BJÖRKEGREN.

Kim is not a stranger to Ghanaian football.

The Swedish coach was appointed Black Queens head coach in January 2025. He came with considerable coaching experience, a UEFA A Licence and experience from different football environments, including Sweden, Cyprus, China and the United States.

Under his leadership, the Black Queens secured a bronze medal at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Yes, there are areas where his work can be scrutinised, and the Black Queens’ performances should never be beyond criticism. But we must also acknowledge the achievements and experience he brings to the table.

More importantly, Kim has previously been involved with the Black Stars technical team as an assistant coach. This means he has had some exposure to the men’s national team setup and is not approaching the assignment as a complete stranger.

He is therefore bringing familiarity with Ghana’s football environment, alongside Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram, who also bring their own experience and knowledge of the local football landscape.

Tanko’s experience with Ghanaian football and national youth teams, together with Attram’s existing involvement in the Black Stars technical setup, could provide an important balance to the interim arrangement.

This is not to suggest that the three automatically guarantee success. Football does not work that way. But there are reasonable grounds to give this technical team an opportunity.

WHAT ABOUT HIS RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE BLACK QUEENS?

This is another important detail we must consider.

Some may be concerned about Kim Lars Björkegren’s simultaneous responsibility for the Black Queens. However, the timing of the two assignments is important.

The Black Stars’ Somalia double-header falls within the November 9–17 international window.

On the other hand, the Black Queens are scheduled to participate in the preliminary phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-Off Tournament from November 24 to December 5. Ghana will face Ecuador, Uzbekistan and Papua New Guinea in that competition.

The important point is that the Black Stars’ November international assignment is scheduled to be completed before the Black Queens’ play-off tournament begins.

Therefore, the two competitive assignments do not overlap.

We should also distinguish between the tournament dates and the teams’ actual camping arrangements, which have not been publicly confirmed in full.

Kim can complete his immediate assignment with the Black Stars and turn his attention to the Black Queens’ World Cup play-off campaign.

This is a scheduling consideration that should be properly understood rather than turned into another controversy.

THE FIVE-MEMBER COMMITTEE HAS DONE ITS WORK. NOW WHAT?

The five-member committee was constituted to identify, evaluate and recommend a suitable coaching arrangement for the Black Stars.

Following its deliberations, an interim technical arrangement involving Kim Lars Björkegren, Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram has emerged for the November assignment.

The interim arrangement also allows the search for a substantive head coach to continue without compromising the team’s immediate competitive responsibilities.

We may have our individual opinions about the decision, but at this critical moment, the priority should be getting behind the technical team and giving them the support they need to deliver.

We must also remember that our opponents are watching. They will be preparing for Ghana, and the last thing we should be doing is creating unnecessary divisions and allowing the noise around our technical arrangements to overshadow the actual assignment.

Over the years, we have sometimes been our own biggest problem when it comes to the Black Stars. We criticise, condemn, create divisions and sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture.

The truth is that WE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN ALSO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THE BLACK STARS ARE BIGGER THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL.

A successful Black Stars benefits everyone.

When the national team performs well and qualifies for major tournaments, the players benefit, sponsors benefit, corporate Ghana benefits, media houses benefit, journalists and broadcasters benefit, and the entire football ecosystem enjoys the commercial and sporting opportunities that come with it.

As sports journalists, broadcasters and media practitioners, we must understand that our responsibility goes beyond reporting controversies. We must also contribute to building a healthy football culture.

Look at English football. There is fierce criticism, debate and scrutiny, but there is also a strong understanding of the commercial value of their football product and the importance of promoting the national team’s interests.

That is not a call for blind support or the abandonment of accountability. The GFA must be questioned when necessary, and the technical team must be held responsible for its performance.

But there is a difference between constructive criticism and constantly creating an atmosphere that makes it difficult for the team to succeed.

WE CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT DESTROYING. WE CAN CRITICISE WITHOUT UNDERMINING. AND WE CAN HOLD THE AUTHORITIES ACCOUNTABLE WHILE STILL SUPPORTING THE BLACK STARS.

For now, the assignment is clear.
Give Kim Lars Björkegren, Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram the opportunity to prepare the team, get the two results against Somalia and restore confidence in our AFCON qualifying campaign.

We need six points. We need a united front. We need the Black Stars to succeed.

And we all have a role to play.
GHANA FIRST!