RABAT, Morocco — Ghana head coach Kim Lars Björkegren believes the Black Queens have both the quality and belief to challenge for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, insisting his side is better prepared than ever as the tournament gets underway in Morocco.

The Black Queens open their campaign with renewed optimism after an intensive 18-month rebuilding process under the Swedish coach, whose immediate objective is to guide Ghana back to the FIFA Women's World Cup with a top-four finish. Beyond that, Björkegren says his players should not be afraid to dream bigger.

"I'm pretty sure we can go all the way and win the gold," Björkegren said. "You have to believe that you can win the tournament; otherwise, there's no reason to play it at all. But I know there are eight or nine other teams that can say the same."

Björkegren believes the experience gained since the last WAFCON has transformed the Black Queens into a more composed and competitive side.

He recalled how nerves affected many of his players during Ghana's opening match against South Africa at the previous tournament, when a largely inexperienced squad struggled to settle into the occasion.

"Almost 90% of the players were playing in their first WAFCON," he said. "You could see it, especially in the first half against South Africa. There were many nervous players who didn't know what to expect."

The coach believes those lessons have accelerated the team's development.

"That was probably the last time we played a bad half. Now the players understand what this tournament demands, and we're expecting to be much more prepared from the opening whistle."

Competition for places has also intensified, with emerging players pushing established internationals throughout the qualification campaign and the team's recent preparations.

Ghana head into the tournament buoyed by an impressive training camp in Dubai, where they recorded successive 4-0 victories over Hong Kong and Russia.

While Björkegren stopped short of reading too much into friendly results, he believes the performances reflected the progress his team has made.

"I don't see us as a team that belongs around 60th in the FIFA rankings," he said. "I know we can compete with and beat teams ranked around the top 20."

The victories have strengthened belief within the squad ahead of a tournament that many expect to be one of the most competitive WAFCON editions yet.

Ghana have been drawn in Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde, with every point likely to prove decisive in the race for the knockout stages.

Björkegren expects a difficult campaign but has made it clear that his focus remains on Ghana's own performances rather than the reputation of their opponents.

He described Cape Verde as one of the tournament's potential surprise packages while acknowledging Cameroon's wealth of experience at the continental level.

"We know how good we can be," he said. "Our first objective is to reach the knockout stage. After that, we take it one match at a time."

Much of Ghana's success could depend on the leadership of captain Portia Boakye, whose experience and composure have made her one of the team's most influential figures.

Björkegren praised the central defender's continued development, saying she has become an even more complete player despite being one of the senior members of the squad.

"She keeps improving," he said. "She's quicker than before, her left foot is outstanding and she's an important leader for the younger players."

In goal, Cynthia Findib has continued her rise after progressing through Ghana's youth national teams.

Although she has already established herself as the Black Queens' first-choice goalkeeper, Björkegren believes there is still considerably more to come.

"I honestly think she's only operating at about 50% of what she can achieve," he said. "Her potential is enormous."

While Björkegren has openly spoken about challenging for the WAFCON trophy, he acknowledged that securing qualification for the next FIFA Women's World Cup remains the team's primary target.

A top-four finish would represent Ghana's best performance in years and mark an important milestone in the Black Queens' resurgence on the continental stage.

The coaching staff have spent the final weeks before the tournament refining defensive organization, set-piece routines and match management in an effort to gain the marginal advantages that often decide knockout football.

"We're trying to improve every small detail," Björkegren said. "Sometimes it's that extra five or ten percent that makes the difference in a tournament."

The Black Queens arrive in Morocco determined to re-establish themselves among Africa's leading women's football nations.

With a more experienced squad, encouraging results in the build-up and a coach convinced his team can compete with the continent's best, Ghana begin their WAFCON campaign believing they can make a deep run.

Whether that journey ends with World Cup qualification, a place in the final or even continental glory will be decided over the coming weeks. But one thing is already clear: the Black Queens are no longer in Morocco simply to participate—they believe they can contend.

To turn those ambitions into reality, the Black Queens must first navigate a challenging group stage. Here is when Björkegren's side will take the pitch in their quest for the knockout rounds:

• Ghana vs. Mali
• Cameroon vs. Ghana
• Cape Verde vs. Ghana