{
  "id": 15577690,
  "title": "Björkegren to lead Black Stars against Somalia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/bjorkegren-to-lead-black-stars-against-somalia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T07:35:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghanaian Times",
    "slug": "ghanaian-times",
    "url": "https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/bjorkegren-to-lead-black-stars-against-somalia/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has selected Swedish coach Kim Lars Björkegren as an interim head coach for the Black Stars prior to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Somalia's national team, the Ocean Stars. This decision was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (MoSR) and approved by the five-member Black Stars Head Coach Search Committee, which is presided over by Fred Pappoe. Björkegren, who also coaches the Black Queens, will guide a four-person interim technical team, which includes Ibrahim Tanko, Godwin Attram, and goalkeepers' coach Fatawu Dauda. The GFA and MoSR believe the combined experience, local knowledge, technical skills, and leadership of this interim team are well-suited to prepare the Black Stars effectively for the upcoming matches. Additional technical and support staff will also be appointed to aid the team. The GFA, MoSR, and the search committee have called on Ghanaians to back the team and its technical staff as they prepare for their upcoming challenges. The Black Stars are currently at the bottom of Group C, having lost their last two matches - a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire and a 4-2 loss to The Gambia's Scorpions - which has heightened expectations on the interim technical team to secure maximum points from their remaining qualifiers and boost Ghana's chances of returning to the continental tournament after missing out on the 2025 edition in Morocco. The Black Stars are set to host Somalia's Ocean Stars in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers during the international window from November 9 to 17.",
  "summary": "The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has appointed Swedish coach Kim Lars Björkegren as interim head coach of the Black Stars ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Somalia’s national team, the Ocean Stars, next month. The appointment, made in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (MoSR), follows a recommendation … The post Björkegren to lead Black…",
  "key_points": [
    "Kim Lars Björkegren named interim Black Stars coach.",
    "GFA selects him with MoSR approval.",
    "Interim team includes Ibrahim Tanko and Fatawu Dauda."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "GFA must prioritize Black Stars coach who will build for the future – Ibrahim Sannie Daara",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/gfa-must-prioritize-black-stars-coach-who-will-build-for-the-future",
        "published": "2026-10-19T06:19:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "GBC Ghana",
        "title": "Thomas Christiansen emerges as latest candidate for Black Stars head coach role",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/thomas-christiansen-emerges-as-latest-candidate-for-black-stars-head",
        "published": "2026-10-19T07:54:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}