Newly appointed Black Queens assistant coach, Pierre Persson is relishing the opportunity to contribute to Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), describing his appointment as both an honour and an exciting challenge.
The Swedish coach, who is currently with Åland United in Finland, brings over a decade of experience in women’s football, having served in various leadership roles, including head coach, club director, sporting director and general manager in Sweden’s top women’s leagues since 2010.
Persson revealed that the opportunity to join the Black Queens came through head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, whose invitation he welcomed with great enthusiasm.
“When Kim called, I was really happy. Joining the Black Queens for WAFCON is a huge honour and a challenge I’m genuinely excited about. This team has enormous potential, and I’m delighted to be part of the journey,” he said.
Working alongside Björkegren and fellow assistant coach Anita, Persson says his focus is on enhancing the team’s passing game, possession play and tactical execution.
“My role is to complement the head coach by working on passing drills, possession and tactics. The players are technically gifted and explosive, with many competing at top clubs in Europe. My job is to help them move the ball quicker, improve their movement off the ball and increase the tempo in possession.”
Since arriving in camp, Persson has introduced fresh training methods centred on concentration, precision and high-intensity sessions while embracing the team’s established culture.
“It’s important to respect the culture that’s already here, but I also want to bring new ideas. Every training session should demand focus and precision because that’s what helps players improve.”
The experienced coach has also been impressed by the quality and mentality within the Black Queens squad, highlighting the competitive environment among the players.
“These players already compete at a high international level, and they constantly push each other. My goal is to build their confidence by recognising what they’re doing well while also showing them where we can improve.”
Although still settling into his new role, Persson believes the early signs have been encouraging and is optimistic about what lies ahead.
“As a new coach, I know I have to prove myself, but the response from the players and staff has been very positive. There’s much more to come, and I’m really looking forward to the journey ahead.”
Persson’s arrival adds further depth to the Black Queens’ technical team as Ghana intensifies preparations for the 2026 TotalEnergies WAFCON.
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