Ghana Coach Björkegren Tips Nigeria as WAFCON 2026 Favourites

Ghana head coach Lars Kim Björkegren has named Nigeria as favourites to win the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, days after a planned friendly between the two sides was called off at the eleventh hour.

The Black Queens and Super Falcons were due to meet in a pre-tournament warm up on Saturday, July 18, but the match did not go ahead. Björkegren, who took over Ghana from Nora Hauptle in December 2024, told the Ghana Football Association's media team that Nigeria's pedigree makes them the team to beat.

"We know that Nigeria is one of the best teams in Africa and they won the previous WAFCON and will go as favorites of the tournament," Björkegren said.

Nigeria, the defending champions, face Egypt, Mali and Zambia in Group C. Ghana, who have never won the tournament, are grouped with Cameroon, Mali and debutants Cape Verde in Group D.

Björkegren guided Ghana to bronze at the last WAFCON, also staged in Morocco, and said the pressure to repeat that run is shared across the squad.

"Of course, its pressure on me, it's pressure on the players as well," he said. "They are fighting to the path of the 27 players and in the end we have to cut three players and that is going to be really painful for all of us to do."

WAFCON 2026 kicks off on July 29 in Morocco.