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 after describing the team's potential as "enormous."
The Swedish tactician, who has joined head coach Kim Lars Björkegren's backroom staff, 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 more than a decade of experience in women's football, 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 Ã…land United.
His immediate focus is on sharpening Ghana's passing, possession play and tactical organisation as the Black Queens continue their preparations in Casablanca.
"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."
Since arriving in camp, Persson has introduced high-intensity training sessions built around concentration and precision while ensuring the team's existing culture remains intact.
"It's important to respect the culture that's already here, but I also want to bring new ideas. Every training session should demand focus and precision because that's what helps players improve."
The former Swedish league coach has also praised the mentality within the squad, insisting the competitive environment is helping drive standards.
"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."
Despite only recently joining the technical team, 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."
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.
Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS