Black Queens head coach, Kim Lars Bjorkegren, says Portia Boakye has been integral in his time as the gaffer of the team.

According to him, the captain of the side has been pivotal since his appointment as the head coach of the team earlier this year.

Portia is one of the long-serving members of the current squad, having also been a part of the last team that played at the last edition of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations prior to the 2024 edition in Morocco.

In an exclusive interview with Joy Sports, Kim Lars Bjorkegren lauded the impact of the defender who has now joined DR Congo's TP Mazembe.

"She (Portia Boakye) is great. I couldn't do it without her, I'm honest with that," Bjorkegren said.

"She's leading the team off the pitch, especially on the pitch as well. The job she is doing of the pitch when the cameras are not there is great.

"I am super happy to have her as a captain. She deserves the best."

Boakye led the Black Queens to a bronze medal in Morocco back in July and will be hoping to improve on that when the Black Queens return to the competition next year.

She's also hoping to help the team secure qualification to the 2027 Women's World Cup to be staged in Brazil.