Sports
WAFCON 2026: Kim Lars Björkegren hails Portia Boakye as ‘extra arm’ after quarterfinal qualification
Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has praised his captain Portia Boakye for her outstanding leadership, describing her as his “extra arm” both on and off the pitch following Ghana’s qualification for the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Swedish tactician believes the captain’s influence has been instrumental to the team’s progress at the tournament, particularly through her ability to communicate with her teammates and lead by example during matches.
Björkegren said Boakye’s leadership has made his job easier, noting that she often understands what needs to be done without requiring detailed instructions from the technical team.
“She means so much. She’s like the extra arm for me, really helpful. Sometimes I don’t need to say too much. She can do it for me. And that’s the kind of captain that you want,” Björkegren said.
The coach also highlighted her exceptional work rate and fighting spirit, qualities he believes have had a positive influence on the rest of the squad.
According to Björkegren, the captain’s willingness to put her body on the line and battle for every ball has made her an important figure in Ghana’s campaign.
“But also, I mean, the most important is how she’s leading on the pitch with her fighting spirit. I mean, she’s brutal. I mean, she really puts her body there. And she’s a real fighter,” he added.
Björkegren further emphasised the respect she commands within the Black Queens dressing room, pointing to the reaction of her teammates when she was named Player of the Match in one of Ghana’s group-stage games.
He said the celebrations from the squad reflected how highly regarded she is among her teammates and how much they appreciate her contribution to the team.
“And the way she’s playing, of course, everybody needs to respect her, and everybody does. And as you said, you can see when she is the player of the match that everybody is so happy for her because it’s so well deserved,” he concluded.
Ghana have now set their sights on the quarterfinals, where they will face Malawi as they continue their quest to win the WAFCON title.
The Black Queens will also be hoping to go deep into the competition and secure a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet
