Black Queens eye Pink Ladies Cup success

Ghana’s Black Queens step into competitive mode this afternoon when they open their Pink Ladies Cup campaign against Hong Kong in the United Arab Emirates.

The Ghanaians go into the tournament not only to participate, but also to compete for silverware as they fine-tune their assault on the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The invitational tournament in the Dubai offers far more than warm-up minutes. For coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his squad, it is a live-fire dress rehearsal ahead of WAFCON in Morocco next month.

Matches against Hong Kong, Russia and Tanzania in Sharjah will test the Queens’ structure, sharpness and squad depth under genuine competitive pressure.

Three games in eight days provide the ideal tournament simulation.

The condensed schedule mirrors the demands of continental football, where recovery, rotation and tactical flexibility often determine how far a team progresses. Björkegren will use the Pink Ladies Cup not only to chase positive results, but also to refine combinations, stress-test his system and gauge the mentality of his players when the stakes rise.

The Queens opened camp at the Al-Hamriyah Sports Club in Sharjah with 25 fully fit players, allowing the technical team to conduct full tactical drills and high-intensity in-house sessions.

The mood has been focused and purposeful — an early sign that the squad understands the significance of this preparatory window.

Experience remains the backbone of the side. Skipper Portia Boakye, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Jennifer Cudjoe and Grace Asantewaa are expected to provide leadership and stability, drawing on their tournament pedigree and the confidence of a bronze-medal finish at the previous WAFCON. Around them, however, is a fresh wave of ambition.

Young talents such as Rose Baah, Diana Amoako, Alexandra Emefa Tay, Sharon Sampson, Helen Alomenu and forward Ajegipena Zakaria have been handed a valuable platform to prove they belong at the senior international level.

The Pink Ladies Cup is their audition and an opportunity to demonstrate composure, tactical discipline and resilience before the spotlight intensifies in Morocco.