From Black Queens to Black Stars: Kim Lars Bjorkegren Set for Interim Role

Bjorkegren Black Stars interim coach 

Ghana are set to turn to Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren as interim boss of the Black Stars for November's crucial 2027 AFCON qualifying double-header against Somalia, following the departure of Carlos Queiroz less than a month into his tenure.

GFA to appoint Kim Lars Bjorkegren as Black Stars interim coach for November fixtures...

Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren is set to be appointed as interim head coach of the Black Stars for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Somalia in November.

The Swedish tactician is expected to take charge of the senior men's national team while the Ghana Football Association (GFA) continues its search for a permanent head coach following the departure of Carlos Queiroz.

Carlos Queiroz and GFA mutually agree to terminate contract https://t.co/WIPQGd3ILW

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) October 1, 2026

The GFA, in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, recently confirmed that an interim technical team would oversee the Black Stars during the November international window to ensure adequate preparation for the upcoming fixtures.

The decision followed a recommendation from the five-member search committee, chaired by former GFA vice-president Fred Pappoe, to extend the recruitment process to allow for a thorough assessment of candidates.

The application deadline for the permanent position was extended to October 15th, with the committee expected to continue evaluating and interviewing candidates throughout October and November before submitting its final recommendation.

Queiroz Era Ends After Disastrous AFCON Qualifying Start

The search for a new coach comes after Ghana's poor start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars lost 2-0 to Ivory Coast in Bouake before suffering a 4-2 defeat to The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium, leaving them without a point from their opening two Group C matches.

☑️ Full-time in Accra📍 🇬🇭 Ghana 2️⃣-4️⃣ Gambia 🇬🇲 #BlackStars | #AFCON2027Q

— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) September 29, 2026

The results led Coach Carlos Queiroz and the GFA to mutually agree to terminate his contract on October 1, less than a month after the Portuguese coach took charge of the team for the qualifiers.

Ghana are now under pressure to revive their campaign when they face Somalia home and away during the November international window.

2027 AFCON qualififers Group C

Bjorkegren's Impact Since Taking Over Black Queens

Bjorkegren has been in charge of the Black Queens since January 2025, when he was appointed to replace Nora Hauptle.

Under his leadership, Ghana finished third at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which was played in Morocco in July 2025 after being postponed from its original schedule.

The result secured the Black Queens a bronze medal, continuing their return to prominence on the continental stage.

⏰: Full Time 🇬🇭 7:0 🇲🇺 #ShineBlackQueens ✨ #LA2028 #olympicQualifiers #MoreThanAble 💪

— Ghana Women National Teams 🇬🇭 (@GhanaWNT) October 13, 2026

The Swedish coach also guided Ghana through the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the country missed out on automatic qualification for the Women’s World Cup.

He is currently overseeing the team in the qualifying campaign for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the playoffs for the World Cup in Brazil.

His work with the women’s national team has established him as a familiar figure within Ghana’s national team setup.

Previous Link With Black Stars Setup

Bjorkegren was appointed assistant coach of the Black Stars in February 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen the technical team ahead of the FIFA World Cup in North America.

However, the arrangement did not materialise, as he remained focused on his responsibilities with the Black Queens ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.