Ghana’s Black Queens are ramping up their preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a highly anticipated friendly clash against arch-rivals Nigeria’s Super Falcons on the horizon. Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has expressed his enthusiasm about the chance to test his squad against Africa’s most successful women’s football team.

The Queens, who have been drawn into a challenging WAFCON group, are hoping their pre-tournament friendlies will build cohesion and sharpen their tactics. The Ghana Football Association has lined up three crucial matches: against Malawi, Botswana, and the fierce continental rivals Nigeria.

“We want to test ourselves against different playing styles and team dynamics,” Björkegren said. “Malawi and Botswana provide technical and disciplined opposition, while Nigeria offers the challenge of a traditional powerhouse.”

The Black Queens will begin their warm-up campaign against Malawi at the Ziaida Complex in Benslimane on Friday, June 21, before facing Botswana at the same venue on June 25. The grand finale of their friendly series will be against the Super Falcons on Friday, June 29, at the Lanouria Complex—a match being billed as a “Jollof Derby”.

Nigeria, under coach Austine Madugu, are not taking things lightly either. The nine-time African champions, still stinging from their 2022 WAFCON final loss to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, are determined to reclaim their crown in Morocco. Before meeting Ghana, the Super Falcons will test themselves against European opposition when they face Portugal on Sunday, June 23, at the Estádio José Gomes.

The stage is set for an intense build-up to the continental showpiece, and all eyes will be on the friendly encounters that could define both teams’ WAFCON journeys.