“I am hopeful we can have another good game on Monday” – Kim Lars Björkegren

The Black Stars returned to winning ways in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, defeating Somalia 2-0 at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Takoradi on Thursday. This marked Ghana's first win since their defeats to Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia in the previous matches, providing a much-needed boost after a challenging start to the campaign.

The victory also marked a new beginning for the Black Stars, following the dismissal of head coach Carlos Queiroz, with interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren taking charge, assisted by Godwin Attram and Ibrahim Tanko.

Ghana secured all three points for the first time in 17 years at the Essipong Sports Stadium, with defender Jonas Adjetey scoring the goals. However, interim coach Björkegren admitted that his side were below their best in the opening half, citing the intense heat and low-intensity play as factors in their slow start. Despite this, he was pleased with the team's response after the break, showing greater energy and control as the game progressed.

Björkegren expressed his hope for another good performance in the upcoming fixture against The Gambia, stating, "I am hopeful we can have another good game on Monday."

Björkegren also acknowledged areas that need improvement, particularly Ghana's speed of play and efficiency in front of goal. "We can play the ball a bit faster than we did, especially in the first half," he said. The victory was particularly significant for Adjetey, as it marked his first goal for the senior national team. He expressed his delight at finally scoring, crediting his teammates for their support.

Adjetey also welcomed the clean sheet, stating that the team had worked to correct the defensive mistakes that had contributed to their previous defeats.

The win gives Björkegren a positive start to his interim tenure, but attention will quickly turn to Monday's encounter as Ghana looks to build on the result and maintain their momentum in Group C.