Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has admitted that his side’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Senegal was heavily influenced by a second-half red card that forced a tactical shift.
Ghana took early control of the match at the Stade Lat-Dior in Thies, with Evelyn Badu scoring the only goal after a dominant opening phase. The early goal capped off a confident start for the Queens, who appeared composed and purposeful in possession.
However, the match took a dramatic turn shortly after the break when Ghana was reduced to ten players, altering the flow of the game and putting the team under sustained pressure.
“Towards the end of the first half, we were adapting to their physical style,” Bjorkegren said after the game.
“At halftime, we actually discussed the need to play football on the ground and move the ball faster. However, we didn’t, and early in the second half, we received a red card. When we did, it completely changed the game,” he added.
The friendly match is part of the Black Queens’ ongoing nine-day training camp, designed to evaluate players and fine-tune strategies ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ghana will face Senegal again on Tuesday to wrap up the two-match friendly series.
These matches are crucial to the Black Queens’ preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to take place in Morocco later this year.