{"id":117378,"date":"2026-02-28T15:01:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T15:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=117378"},"modified":"2026-02-28T15:01:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T15:01:01","slug":"dubai-test-awaits-bjorkegrens-revamped-black-queens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=117378","title":{"rendered":"Dubai test awaits Bj\u00f6rkegren\u2019s revamped Black Queens"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>4 Minute, 48 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

IN three weeks, the \u00a02026 Women\u2019s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will kick off as 16 teams slug it out not just for the prestigious title, but also for Africa\u2019s four slots for the 2027 Women\u2019s World Cup.
\nAs expected, most teams have begun their preparations for the tournament, and for Ghana\u2019s Black Queens, a golden opportunity has been handed to them with an invitation to participate in this year\u2019s Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai.<\/p>\n

The Queens are one of four teams, including Russia, Hong Kong and Tanzania, invited to the Dubai tournament, each one expected to use the platform to gear up for upcoming international assignments.
\nWith limited time for the WAFCON, Coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has stuck with most of the players he has worked with since taking over the reins, and has invited only six players to join the Pink Lady\u2019s Cup.\u00a0
\nSince taking charge of the Queens last year, Coach Bjorkegren has steadily built the Queens into a very cohesive and well-coordinated team.
\nAt this point, he has a fair idea of exactly what they want to achieve, so far as their ambitions for Morocco are concerned.
\nHowever, he is also looking to the future and keen to make the positions competitive, as clearly reflected in the players he has called up.
\nGoalkeeper Rose Baah, defenders Diana Amoako and Alexandra Emefa Tay, wingers Sharon Sampson and Helen Alomenu, as well as attacker Ajegipena Zakaria, are the new additions who have the chance in Dubai to justify their inclusion in the team that will eventually make it to Morocco for the WAFCON slated for March 17 to April 3.\u00a0
\nPink Lady Cup
\nThe Pink Lady Cup is an initiative of McSport, a FIFA-accredited sports agency, and was instituted in 2024 as an annual international women’s football tournament, bringing together national teams from different continents to compete in a round-robin format, after which the winners are crowned.
\nThe previous two tournaments had six teams, but this year\u2019s event will feature only four teams, meaning there will be only three matches for each side.
\nRussia, winners of the maiden edition in 2024, are the only side to have been consistently invited to the tournament, finishing second behind South Korea in last year\u2019s event\u00a0
\nContest
\nSince arriving in Dubai last Tuesday, the Queens have switched to business mode and kept a structured training schedule.
\nThis afternoon, they begin the tournament with a game against Hong Kong, play Russia on Tuesday, and then wrap up the campaign on Friday with a game against Tanzania.
\nWhile it will be the first time they encounter Hong Kong, most of the Queens players have a fair idea of Asian opponents, some having played South Korea (2-2) at the Under-20 Women\u2019s World Cup and Japan in international friendlies, losing 1-4 in 2024.
\nHowever, the team has seen many positive changes, which should be evident when they line up against Hong Kong, ranked 82nd in the world.
\nIn Asia, Hong Kong are not among the top women\u2019s football nations; however, having earned an invitation to this tournament, ahead of South Korea, who won the 2025 edition, speaks volumes about what they bring to the contest and will no doubt be a good test for the Ghanaians.
\nWhile Ghana and Russia have not played in any competitive games, this will be the second time they clash, the first occurring more than three decades ago in India.
\nThey met in a similar international invitational tournament organised by the Indians at a time when they were trying to build their women\u2019s football.
\nThat tournament, which also featured India and Uzbekistan, was won by the Queens, led by Alberta Sackey, who beat all three teams to lift the trophy.
\nRanked 28th in the world, the Russians, winners in 2024 and runners-up in the 2025 edition of the Pink Lady\u2019s Cup, consider this tournament their lifeline at a time when they have been isolated from international sporting events.
\nThey have had to pay a political price for the Russia-Ukraine crisis and have thus been sidelined from international competitions since 2021.
\nIn 2021, Russia defeated Portugal 1\u20130 to qualify for the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro, but, on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA and UEFA, they were sidelined from all international sporting events and have yet to return.\u00a0
\nThus, it will be interesting to see how they show up at the Dubai tournament, their third in a row.
\nThe Queens\u2019 final game against Tanzania\u2019s Twiga Stars will be a replay of their Group C clash at the 2024 WAFCON, which the Queens won 4-1.\u00a0
\nWith the Tanzanians, ranked 121st, also using this tournament as preparation for their 2026 WAFCON campaign, it will be interesting to see how they show up against the Queens, mindful of the pain they caused them the last time they clashed and cautious not to have their egos bruised ahead of their third WAFCON appearance.\u00a0
\nMission
\nOn paper, the Queens are tipped for success, given their recent performance and the depth of quality in the team.\u2019
\nLast December\u2019s international friendly against England\u2019s Three Lionesses, which they lost 0-1, has bolstered the Queens’ ratings and moved them up to 62nd place in the current FIFA rankings.
\nThey may just build on that to show the world once again that they are indeed a side on a mission.\u00a0
\nCoach Brokegren insists that while such a high rating by pundits is a good morale booster, it will not make them complacent, as they are in Dubai for one purpose: see how they can shape up for the WAFCON challenge in three weeks. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n

\"Coach<\/p>\n

IN three weeks, the \u00a02026 Women\u2019s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will kick off as 16 teams slug it out not just for the prestigious title, but also for Africa\u2019s four slots for the 2027 Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As expected, most teams have begun their preparations for the tournament, and for Ghana\u2019s Black Queens, a golden opportunity has been handed to them with an invitation to participate in this year\u2019s Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai.<\/p>\n

The Queens are one of four teams, including Russia, Hong Kong and Tanzania, invited to the Dubai tournament, each one expected to use the platform to gear up for upcoming international assignments.<\/p>\n

With limited time for the WAFCON, Coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren has stuck with most of the players he has worked with since taking over the reins, and has invited only six players to join the Pink Lady\u2019s Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since taking charge of the Queens last year, Coach Bjorkegren has steadily built the Queens into a very cohesive and well-coordinated team.<\/p>\n

At this point, he has a fair idea of exactly what they want to achieve, so far as their ambitions for Morocco are concerned.<\/p>\n

However, he is also looking to the future and keen to make the positions competitive, as clearly reflected in the players he has called up.<\/p>\n

Goalkeeper Rose Baah, defenders Diana Amoako and Alexandra Emefa Tay, wingers Sharon Sampson and Helen Alomenu, as well as attacker Ajegipena Zakaria, are the new additions who have the chance in Dubai to justify their inclusion in the team that will eventually make it to Morocco for the WAFCON slated for March 17 to April 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pink Lady Cup<\/h2>\n

The Pink Lady Cup is an initiative of McSport, a FIFA-accredited sports agency, and was instituted in 2024 as an annual international women’s football tournament, bringing together national teams from different continents to compete in a round-robin format, after which the winners are crowned.<\/p>\n

The previous two tournaments had six teams, but this year\u2019s event will feature only four teams, meaning there will be only three matches for each side.<\/p>\n

Russia, winners of the maiden edition in 2024, are the only side to have been consistently invited to the tournament, finishing second behind South Korea in last year\u2019s event\u00a0<\/p>\n

Contest<\/h2>\n

Since arriving in Dubai last Tuesday, the Queens have switched to business mode and kept a structured training schedule.<\/p>\n

This afternoon, they begin the tournament with a game against Hong Kong, play Russia on Tuesday, and then wrap up the campaign on Friday with a game against Tanzania.<\/p>\n

While it will be the first time they encounter Hong Kong, most of the Queens players have a fair idea of Asian opponents, some having played South Korea (2-2) at the Under-20 Women\u2019s World Cup and Japan in international friendlies, losing 1-4 in 2024.<\/p>\n

However, the team has seen many positive changes, which should be evident when they line up against Hong Kong, ranked 82nd in the world.<\/p>\n

In Asia, Hong Kong are not among the top women\u2019s football nations; however, having earned an invitation to this tournament, ahead of South Korea, who won the 2025 edition, speaks volumes about what they bring to the contest and will no doubt be a good test for the Ghanaians.<\/p>\n

While Ghana and Russia have not played in any competitive games, this will be the second time they clash, the first occurring more than three decades ago in India.<\/p>\n

They met in a similar international invitational tournament organised by the Indians at a time when they were trying to build their women\u2019s football.<\/p>\n

That tournament, which also featured India and Uzbekistan, was won by the Queens, led by Alberta Sackey, who beat all three teams to lift the trophy.<\/p>\n

Ranked 28th in the world, the Russians, winners in 2024 and runners-up in the 2025 edition of the Pink Lady\u2019s Cup, consider this tournament their lifeline at a time when they have been isolated from international sporting events.<\/p>\n

They have had to pay a political price for the Russia-Ukraine crisis and have thus been sidelined from international competitions since 2021.<\/p>\n

In 2021, Russia defeated Portugal 1\u20130 to qualify for the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro, but, on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA and UEFA, they were sidelined from all international sporting events and have yet to return.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thus, it will be interesting to see how they show up at the Dubai tournament, their third in a row.<\/p>\n

The Queens\u2019 final game against Tanzania\u2019s Twiga Stars will be a replay of their Group C clash at the 2024 WAFCON, which the Queens won 4-1.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the Tanzanians, ranked 121st, also using this tournament as preparation for their 2026 WAFCON campaign, it will be interesting to see how they show up against the Queens, mindful of the pain they caused them the last time they clashed and cautious not to have their egos bruised ahead of their third WAFCON appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mission<\/h2>\n

On paper, the Queens are tipped for success, given their recent performance and the depth of quality in the team.\u2019<\/p>\n

Last December\u2019s international friendly against England\u2019s Three Lionesses, which they lost 0-1, has bolstered the Queens’ ratings and moved them up to 62nd place in the current FIFA rankings.<\/p>\n

They may just build on that to show the world once again that they are indeed a side on a mission.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coach Brokegren insists that while such a high rating by pundits is a good morale booster, it will not make them complacent, as they are in Dubai for one purpose: see how they can shape up for the WAFCON challenge in three weeks. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","category-travel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=117378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117378\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=117378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=117378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=117378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}