Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren says his players should hold their heads high despite their 2-0 defeat to England in an international friendly at Southampton’s St. Mary’s Stadium, a result he believes does not diminish the team’s effort or spirit. Ghana conceded an early goal in the sixth minute when Lucia Kendall punished a defensive error, before Alessia Russo converted a late stoppage-time penalty to seal the win for the European champions.
England, who recently secured back-to-back European Championship titles and are widely regarded as one of the strongest and most technically complete national teams in women’s football, posed a formidable challenge, yet Bjorkegren stressed that Ghana competed with determination and discipline throughout the match. He noted that while every coach desires victory, it is important to appreciate the context—Ghana currently sits 67th in the world rankings, and facing a team of England’s calibre requires not only preparation but mental strength, qualities he believes the Black Queens demonstrated impressively.
The coach highlighted the team’s resilience and work rate, stating that the players stood firm for the full 90 minutes and responded positively even after conceding under pressure, which he considers a sign of growing maturity within the squad. Bjorkegren expressed satisfaction with the overall performance, insisting that the friendly match provided valuable lessons the team can build on as they continue their preparations for upcoming international engagements.
Captain Portia Boakye and her teammates delivered several promising moments during the game, and the technical team remains optimistic that the Black Queens will transform these experiences into stronger performances in future competitive fixtures.
