Ghana's football governing body is evaluating the temporary hiring of Kim Lars Björkegren to guide the men's national side.
This possible move has quickly caused discussion among fans. A group of five people put together by the federation is managing the creation of a short-term coaching staff, likely to also feature Godwin Attram and Ibrahim Tanko. The idea is to allow those searching for a full-time coach additional time to assess options before the national team meets again.
Fan reaction split
Word of Björkegren possibly holding two jobs has received a divided response on the internet. Some supporters have expressed firm disagreement, suggesting it indicates insufficient support for women's football. One person stated online, "Everything shows we don't value female national team," adding that a coach with important women's games should not also lead the men's team in the same period.
Other fans have supported the idea, viewing Björkegren as a reliable choice for a challenging time. A different supporter described it as a very reasonable choice. No official statement has been released by the federation about this temporary plan.
High-stakes November
The suggested plan emerges during a stressful period for football in Ghana. The men's team was defeated in its first two qualifying games, putting its tournament qualification chances at risk. Its following fixture is against Somalia at home, a game it needs to win to improve its situation. The team currently sits in a precarious position in its qualifying group, and the points gap to the top places is significant, making the upcoming match a must-win.
At the same time, the women's team has key playoff matches for World Cup qualification set for soon after the men's games. This scheduling conflict is central to the dispute over Björkegren's possible temporary role.
Both Björkegren and Ibrahim Tanko have previous backgrounds with Ghana's national setups. Björkegren had a prior stint with the men's senior team, and Tanko has led the men's under-23 side. The immediate job for the temporary staff is to get the team ready for the essential match against Somalia next month, a task made more urgent by the team's recent form of three wins and a draw in its last five outings, which shows potential for improvement. The team's top scorer will be a key figure in turning around the qualifying campaign.
Read the full report at GhanaWeb
