Ghana coach hints at changes for Somalia return fixture

Ghana's head coach, Kim Lars Bjorkegren, has indicated that he might alter his starting lineup for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia. The match is scheduled for Monday at the Sekondi Stadium. Following their previous encounter on Thursday, Bjorkegren is evaluating his squad's fitness. Most players have shown good recovery, but he has not dismissed the possibility of making squad adjustments.

"Most of the players are doing well. They’re recovering very well, I would say. It will probably be a couple of changes. But it’s still one more day to go. So, we will see what happens over the night," he stated.

Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi's availability is also under consideration, pending a further assessment by the medical team. Bjorkegren emphasized that a decision will only be made after Yirenkyi's consultation with the medical staff. "We will see. He will probably do a little bit more today and then we will have a chat. It includes the doctor as well, of course. And then we will see if he’s ready to go or not. So, let’s wait and see."

Despite having a limited time with the squad since his appointment, Bjorkegren notes that the players have responded positively to the new technical team. "Yeah, it’s not so much time we have together, of course, so it’s a little bit special to come in pretty late, like I talked about before, but with a new group and a new staff. But the players are doing well. They look relaxed. Of course, it helps to win the game. And we’re building from there now," he added.

The coach acknowledged that the team reviewed footage of their previous performance and identified areas for improvement. "We think that we did many things good. I think we played pretty well in 70 or 90 minutes, but there’s also in some areas we can improve. And we have watched the videos, and we think that we have a clear picture of what we can do even better in the game tomorrow," he explained.

Ghana aims to secure another three points against Somalia as they persist in their pursuit of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.