Kim Lars Björkegren is set to take interim charge of the Black Stars for their November 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying doubleheader against Somalia as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) continues its search for a permanent head coach.
The Black Queens head coach will lead the senior men’s national team following the departure of Carlos Queiroz, who left the position after Ghana suffered defeats in their opening two Group C matches of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Björkegren will be assisted by Medeama SC head coach Ibrahim Tanko and current Black Stars assistant coach Godwin Attram as the team prepares for the two encounters scheduled between November 11 and 14, 2026.
The temporary technical arrangement is expected to give the GFA’s five-member coaching search committee additional time to assess candidates and identify a suitable successor to Queiroz.
Ghana’s qualifying campaign has suffered an early setback after a defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in their opening fixture was followed by a 2-4 loss to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars are therefore seeking their first points of the campaign, with the upcoming matches against Somalia presenting an opportunity to revive their qualification hopes.
The team will need positive results in the doubleheader to improve its standing in Group C and strengthen its chances of securing a place at the continental tournament.
Björkegren is not entirely new to the Black Stars’ technical setup, having previously served as an assistant during Otto Addo’s tenure. His expected appointment as interim head coach, however, will place him in a more prominent role as Ghana attempts to recover from its poor start to the qualifiers.
Tanko also brings experience from his work with Medeama and his previous involvement with the Black Meteors, Ghana’s under-23 men’s national team, while Attram provides continuity through his existing role with the senior team.
The interim arrangement follows the coaching search committee’s request for additional time to complete its work, allowing the Black Stars to prepare for their November assignments without waiting for a permanent appointment.
Beyond his responsibilities with the men’s team, Björkegren will also continue overseeing the Black Queens as they prepare for the next stage of their campaign to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
He is expected to return his attention to the women’s national team after the November international window for their upcoming play-off fixtures.
The dual assignment will require the Swedish coach to manage preparations for both national teams as Ghana pursues qualification for the men’s AFCON and the Women’s World Cup.
