Ghana’s Black Queens have publicly called on the government and relevant authorities to urgently resolve outstanding financial and welfare issues, including unpaid bonuses and concerns over the level of support provided during their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign in Morocco. In a statement released ahead of their crucial World Cup play-in against Côte d’Ivoire, the players said several financial commitments remain unpaid, including bonuses for the Egypt 2025 tournament, the WAFCON qualification bonus, group-stage bonuses and outstanding per diem payments.
Players list unpaid items and welfare concerns
The squad listed unpaid items including an Egypt 2025 bonus, their WAFCON qualification bonus, group-stage bonuses from the ongoing tournament, and outstanding per diem allowances among their key concerns. They also called for improved management support, as well as greater attention to mental health and overall well-being of players representing the country. “We believe that financial commitments to players should be honoured on time and that the welfare of national team players must be treated as a priority,” the players said.
Players say government support was limited
The Black Queens expressed concern about the level of government support during their WAFCON campaign, noting that the Minister responsible for Sports attended only their first official training session, which was also attended by President John Mahama. They said that, apart from that occasion, they have largely had to rely on themselves, their teammates and the technical staff throughout their journey. The statement comes after Ghana missed out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup following a 2–1 quarter-final defeat to Malawi at WAFCON 2026.
Commitment to represent Ghana remains
Despite the outstanding issues, the players stressed that they remain committed to representing Ghana and to the millions of supporters who continue to back the team. They said their statement was not intended to create conflict or disrespect the authorities, but to seek a more professional and supportive environment for the national team. “We respectfully call on the relevant authorities, including the Ministry and the appropriate decision-makers, to listen to our concerns, engage with us and work towards a swift resolution,” the statement added.
Sports Ministry responds on per diems and bonuses
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has responded, saying there are no outstanding per diems owed to the Black Queens for their participation in WAFCON 2026, with all per diems paid as of August 12, 2026. However, the ministry admitted that the qualification bonus from the group stage of WAFCON was outstanding and being processed. It further challenged the players’ claims concerning an outstanding qualification bonus from Ghana’s WAFCON qualifying matches against Egypt, saying the current sports financing framework did not provide a separate qualification bonus for securing WAFCON qualification through the home-and-away qualifying round.
