Black Queens brace for major test as Bjorkegren expects toughest challenge against England

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has described Ghana’s upcoming friendly against England as one of the toughest tests the team could face, insisting that the match will provide a crucial assessment of the squad’s progress on the international stage.

The encounter, scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, at the St Mary's Stadium, pits Ghana against the world’s top-ranked side and reigning European champions - a fixture Bjorkegren openly calls “deep water” for his squad.

“We are jumping into deep water to see if we can swim against the best team in the world,” he admitted.

“It’s going to be extremely tough, and we must understand that. But we also know we have qualities and must challenge ourselves.”

Ghana enters the match with growing confidence after a year of steady improvement under the Swedish tactician, who has rebuilt the team’s identity, defensive structure, and competitive spirit.

But facing England away presents a rare opportunity to measure the Black Queens against the highest standard in the women’s game.

The coach believes such high-calibre opponents are essential as Ghana seeks to climb the FIFA rankings and cement its place as one of the strongest teams in Africa.

“Games like this show us not only how good we are, but what we still need to improve,” Bjorkegren explained.

“Playing England away is possibly the most difficult test in world football right now.”

Despite acknowledging the enormity of the challenge, Bjorkegren remains optimistic.

He insists the team is excited, motivated, and ready to show courage as they step onto the international stage.

The England friendly, he believes, marks an important checkpoint in Ghana’s long-term journey toward becoming a global force in women’s football.