Ghana's Black Queens Gear Up for WAFCON 2026 Under Coach Pie

New Black Queens assistant coach Pierre Persson believes Ghana has the quality to make a strong impact at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Pierre Persson, a Swedish tactician with over a decade of experience in women’s football, has joined head coach Kim Lars Bjørkegren’s backroom staff. He says accepting the opportunity to work with Ghana was an easy decision after receiving the call to be part of the Black Queens’ WAFCON campaign.

“When Kim called, I was really happy. Joining the Black Queens for WAFCON is a huge honour and a challenge I’m genuinely excited about. This team has enormous potential, and I’m delighted to be part of the journey,” Persson said.

Persson arrives with a wealth of experience, having served as a head coach, sporting director, club director, and general manager in Sweden’s top women’s leagues. He is also currently attached to Finnish side land United.

The former Swedish league coach has been working with the Black Queens in Casablanca, Morocco, where his focus has been on sharpening Ghana’s passing, possession play, and tactical organisation.

“My role is to complement the head coach by working on passing drills, possession and tactics. The players are technically gifted and explosive, with many competing at top clubs in Europe. My job is to help them move the ball quicker, improve their movement off the ball and increase the tempo in possession,” Persson explained.

Persson has introduced high-intensity training sessions built around concentration and precision, while ensuring the team’s existing culture remains intact. He aims to build the players’ confidence by recognising what they’re doing well while also showing them where they can improve.

“These players already compete at a high international level, and they constantly push each other. My goal is to build their confidence by recognising what they’re doing well while also showing them where we can improve,” Persson said.

The Black Queens are continuing their preparations in Morocco ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which gets underway on July 25. Persson says he has been encouraged by the reception he has received from both the players and staff.

“As a new coach, I know I have to prove myself, but the response from the players and staff has been very positive. There’s much more to come, and I’m really looking forward to the journey ahead,” Persson said.

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations promises to be an exciting tournament, and the Black Queens are one of the teams to watch. With Persson’s expertise and the team’s existing talent, Ghana may just make a strong impact at the tournament.

Source: Ghana Soccernet