BY ISSAH OLEGOR
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reinforced the Black Queens’ technical department with the appointment of Swedish performance analyst James Slaughter as the team’s new video analyst ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The move forms part of the GFA’s broader strategy to strengthen the national women’s team as preparations intensify for the continental championship, where Ghana will be aiming to improve on its bronze-medal finish at the previous edition and challenge for its first WAFCON title.
Slaughter joins the Black Queens after an impressive career with Swedish top-flight club Malmö FF, where he progressed from recording matches as a teenager to becoming the club’s Head of Performance Analysis. His extensive experience in performance analysis is expected to provide the Ghanaian technical team with valuable tactical insights during the tournament.
As the team’s video analyst, Slaughter will oversee the recording and analysis of training sessions and matches, providing detailed assessments of the Black Queens’ performances while identifying tactical strengths and areas requiring improvement. He will also be responsible for analysing the opponents and producing comprehensive reports to assist the coaching staff in match preparation.
The Swedish analyst will work closely with head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, assistant coach Pierre Persson and fellow performance analyst Ronny as part of a technical team tasked with ensuring the Black Queens are fully prepared for the challenges of WAFCON 2026.
Speaking about his new role, Slaughter emphasised the growing importance of performance analysis in modern football, noting that small tactical details and fine margins often determine the outcome of matches at the highest level. He explained that his responsibilities would include breaking down key moments from games and training sessions to help improve the team’s performances.
He also acknowledged that analysing some of Ghana’s opponents could prove challenging because of the limited availability of match footage but expressed confidence that thorough preparation and detailed analysis would provide the Black Queens with a competitive advantage during the tournament.
The appointment reflects the Ghana Football Association’s continued investment in the women’s national team following renewed efforts to restore the Black Queens among the continent’s elite after years of rebuilding.
Ghana remains one of Africa’s most successful women’s national teams, having reached three WAFCON finals in 1998, 2002 and 2006, while consistently qualifying for major continental tournaments.
However, the Black Queens are still chasing their first African title despite decades of competing at the highest level.
