Sports News of 2026-10-16
GFA eyes Kim Lars Bjorkegren move for Black Stars amid Black Queens dilemma
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is reportedly considering Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren for the Black Stars’ interim coaching role as pressure mounts to find a solution to the senior men’s team’s alarming start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Local media reports indicate that the Swedish tactician could be handed the responsibility of leading Ghana in their crucial November double-header against Somalia, with Black Stars assistant coach Godwin Attram and Ibrahim Tanko expected to assist him.
The reported move comes at a critical moment for Ghana, who have suffered consecutive defeats in their opening Group C matches and are desperate to get their qualification campaign back on track.
The Black Stars began with a 2-0 defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in Bouaké before suffering an embarrassing 4-2 home loss to The Gambia, throwing away a two-goal lead. The results led to the mutual termination of Carlos Queiroz’s contract, leaving the GFA scrambling to find a new technical direction.
A five-member search committee chaired by former GFA vice-president Fred Pappoe was subsequently established to identify a successor. The committee has faced pressure to deliver quickly and last week appealed for more time, citing the number of applications received for the vacant position.
October 15 was set as the deadline to announce a new coach. However, reports emerging on the deadline day suggest Björkegren could be recommended to take charge on an interim basis, with Ghana scheduled to face Somalia on November 11 and 15.
Björkegren is no stranger to the Black Stars setup. He previously served as an assistant coach ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was left out after Otto Addo’s departure and the appointment of Queiroz, who brought in his own technical staff.
Kim Lars has since continued his work with the Black Queens, earning praise for his efforts with Ghana’s women’s national team. His possible move to the men’s side, however, raises questions about the timing and its implications for the women’s team.
The Black Queens are also preparing for a crucial phase of their campaign, with World Cup qualifying play-offs scheduled to begin on November 28. That is just 13 days after the Black Stars’ second meeting with Somalia, potentially creating a difficult situation for the GFA if Björkegren is expected to manage both assignments.
With Ghana needing results to revive their AFCON qualifying hopes, the reported consideration of Björkegren represents another significant development in the search for stability following Queiroz’s departure.
The GFA has yet to officially confirm whether Björkegren is being considered for the interim position or whether he will be recommended for the job.
