By Issah Olegor
The senior national women’s football team, the Black Queens, have reignited a long-standing standoff with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation over unpaid bonuses, threatening to boycott training sessions and their crucial second-leg encounter against Egypt in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers.
According to sources, each player is owed approximately $9,500 in unpaid bonuses dating back to their impressive performance at the 2025 WAFCON tournament in Morocco, which ended in July this year.
Despite repeated assurances from the Sports Ministry, the funds have not been disbursed.
A Recurring Financial Dispute
The issue of unpaid allowances and bonuses has haunted the women’s national teams for years.
The Black Queens previously made headlines in 2016, when they protested at the Ministry’s premises in Accra over delayed payments following their WAFCON campaign in Cameroon.
Despite those protests, similar disputes have resurfaced repeatedly, highlighting what many observers describe as institutional neglect toward women’s football in Ghana.
This latest impasse stems from months of frustration among players, who claim that their dedication to national duty has not been matched with the same level of respect and support accorded to their male counterparts, the Black Stars.
Sources close to the team say the Queens were initially reluctant to travel to Ismailia, Egypt, for the first leg of their qualifier on Thursday, but were persuaded after intervention from senior sports officials and team leaders.
Unpaid Per Diems and Empty Promises
Reports indicate that even the team’s per diems—daily allowances meant to cover their expenses during international duty—were only paid after the first-leg victory against the Egyptian side, nicknamed the Cleopatras.
Despite securing an emphatic 3-0 win away from home, morale within the camp has reportedly plummeted since their return to Ghana.
Players are said to have refused to attend training sessions or engage in any form of physical preparation ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at the Accra Sports Stadium, insisting that they will not play until their outstanding bonuses are cleared.
“The players have had enough,” said a team insider who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They were promised that their money would be paid before returning from Egypt, but nothing has been done. The silence from the Ministry is making things worse.”
Threat to Ghana’s WAFCON and World Cup Hopes
The ongoing standoff now threatens Ghana’s qualification prospects for the 2026 WAFCON, which also doubles as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
A failure to honor the return leg could result in heavy sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including disqualification and fines.
