Both deputy captain Jennifer Cudjoe and head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren spoke during the press conference ahead of the game and insisted the camp is relaxed, focused and going for the win in Casablanca.
Cudjoe framed the mood in the squad as one of anticipation rather than anxiety.
“Pressure is a privilege, and I think as a player, we’ve been in a different stage in our career. We’ve been in this place before, so I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure. But we know what we have to do and we’re going to show up on Thursday and give everything we can.”
It'll be do-or-die at the Moulay Rachid Stadium for the Black Queens, who need at least a draw to secure progression into the knockout round. Cudjoe made clear the players are not planning to leave anything to chance.
“I’m excited and I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready and everybody is ready. I just hope that we show up and do what we have to do. We know that we need to win. That’s what we’re going for so I don’t think there’s too much pressure. But we know that it’s not going to be an easy game as well.”
That mindset was echoed by the head coach at his own pre-match press conference. Bjorkegren said his squad was not carrying any burden into the fixture.
“We don’t have any pressure at all, not for a single second. I think for the girls, I can’t talk for them, but they look pretty relaxed. We have, of course, been talking about football and things like that, but we also try to relax a little bit and talk about other things.”
The Swedish trainer added that despite knowing a draw would in all likelihood carry them through, his side would approach the fixture with a strict must-win mentality and play only for all three points as they continue building rhythm and confidence heading into the knockout stages.
Cudjoe was also asked about the noise around the team back home, where Sunday’s loss to Cameroon had prompted a wave of online debate about the Black Queens’ direction and personnel. Her response was that the group was listening, but not being pulled off course.
WAFCON 2026
The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is taking place from July 26th to August 16th in Morocco, across venues in Rabat and Casablanca. The continent's 16 best sides are competing in groups of four before the knockout stages commence on August 8th.
All you need to know about WAFCON | Group standings, fixtures and results | All the latest WAFCON news
“I mean we hear all Ghanaians, we know they love us, we know they expect a lot from us. They’ve watched us from last year and years before and they know what we can do. So of course now seeing what we can do, it’s obviously a lot.”
“We see everything that they’re asking for, they’re talking about, but I don’t think we’re going to let it affect us that much. But also we hear them. We want them to know we hear them because we want to be the best.”
The deputy captain closed by laying out the wider prize that keeps the group focused on returning to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2007, and challenging for a first-ever WAFCON title.
“We want to go to the World Cup, that’s my goal, and also definitely get to the final. So, it’s always good to hear the feedback from the fans, but also we’re going to show up and we’re going to prove to them that hey we’re here. It’s just a process. They should trust us.”
Ghana face Mali at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca at 20:00 GMT on Thursday, August 6, in the final round of Group C fixtures.
