By: Belinda Nketia
The Ghana Football Association President and CAF Second Vice President Kurt Okraku, has expressed strong confidence in the Black Queens’ readiness ahead of the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on GTV Sports Plus with Kwabena Yeboah on 2nd February 2026, Kurt Okraku said the Football Association has addressed long-standing preparation challenges by investing heavily in extended training programs and international camping opportunities.
According to him, the Black Queens benefited from fully funded training camps in Morocco, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, alongside a longer pre-tournament camping period supported by government funding.
“The challenge in the past was inadequate preparation,” the GFA president explained. “This time, we ensured the players stayed together, trained together and developed chemistry before the tournament.”
The Ghana Football Association President and CAF Second Vice President Kurt Okraku
He acknowledged Ghana’s slow start at the previous WAFCON but praised the team’s steady improvement throughout the competition, which eventually earned the Black Queens a bronze medal finish.
Kurt Okraku also highlighted the team’s recent international exposure, including a friendly match against England at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, as a key factor in rebuilding player confidence.
Looking ahead to the March tournament, he confirmed that the Black Queens’ technical team, led by Coach Kim Lars Björkegren will soon arrive in Ghana to begin camping, including preparatory matches aimed at sharpening the squad’s competitiveness.
He added that the ultimate objective remains a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, after he expressed optimism that the current squad has the quality and mentality to qualify.
The Black Queens are returning to continental prominence after missing several major tournaments in recent years due to qualification setbacks and structural challenges. The queens last lifted the WAFCON bronze medal at the most recent edition in 2025, marking the team’s strongest continental finish in over a decade.
The 2026 tournament in Morocco also doubles as a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying pathway, making the competition a critical milestone in Ghana’s efforts to return to the global stage. Ghana last featured at the Women’s World Cup in 2019.
