Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has revealed that Ghana’s Black Stars achieved a remarkable leap in world standing, jumping from 47th to 24th position at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite modest financial backing and significant operational hurdles.
Presenting the 2026 World Cup expenditure and performance breakdown to Parliament’s Select Committee on Youth and Sports, Mr Adams disclosed that the country incurred a total expenditure of GH₵146,268,649 (converted from $13,776,965) against an initial parliamentary allocation of GH₵150 million
Mr Adams said the team’s performance represented a significant improvement and demonstrated Ghana’s potential to compete strongly on the international stage.
He made the disclosure when he presented the 2026 World Cup expenditure and performance report to Parliament’s Select Committee on Youth and Sports.
According to the Minister, Ghana spent GH¢146,268,649, equivalent to US$13,776,965, on its World Cup campaign, against an initial parliamentary allocation of GH¢150 million.
He said the Black Stars also reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“At the time we left Ghana for the World Cup, 48 teams were participating. Ghana was ranked only ahead of Iraq—put in the 47th position. By the time the tournament was over, we had moved from 47 to 24,” Mr Adams told the committee.
“Our participation in the World Cup truly showed that we are a strong nation, and if we take all the things that we need to do seriously, we can be very competitive,” he added.
Mr Adams said the campaign also produced several notable milestones, including Ghana’s first victory in an opening World Cup match, improved defensive organisation and the emergence of young talents who demonstrated significant potential.
Operational hurdles
The Minister, however, acknowledged that the team’s campaign was affected by a number of logistical and operational challenges as the squad travelled across host cities in the United States and Canada, including Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City.
He said the coaching transition following the departure of Otto Addo left new head coach Carlos with a limited period to prepare the team for the tournament.
Ghana also suffered a major setback when midfielder Thomas Partey was denied a visa to enter Canada because of ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, forcing him to miss the opening match against Panama in Toronto.
The squad was further weakened by injuries to key players, including Mohammed Kudus, Alexander Djiku and Mohammed Salisu, placing additional pressure on the available players.
Mr Adams also cited high travel costs across the host countries and delays in the release of allocated funds as challenges that affected operations during the tournament.
On complaints surrounding complimentary tickets for Ghanaian supporters and delegation members, he said the high attendance at some stadiums created pressure on the limited ticket allocation available to the Ghanaian delegation.
Ghana awaits FIFA payments
On the financial returns expected from Ghana’s participation in the tournament, Mr Adams said the government was still awaiting the conclusion of financial reconciliation between FIFA and the host countries, particularly concerning tax arrangements and final prize-money allocations.
“As at this moment that I am speaking to you, we are yet to conclude that and to receive those monies. We hope that by the end of this month, FIFA will have concluded all their processes,” he said.
The Minister explained that under the applicable legislation, monies eventually released to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) would be transferred directly into the national Sports Fund Account for use in sports and recreational development.
Mr Adams also submitted to the committee the full list of technical, backroom and management personnel who accompanied the Black Stars to the tournament as part of efforts to account for expenditure incurred during the campaign.
The technical and support team included physiotherapists Albert Eveji, Abdel Fattah Oda and Luis Fernando; Assistant Goalkeeper Coach Bruno Fidalgo; video analysts Gregory, Jose Martinez and Butch Kasik; scout Budime; team officials Angkuman Samuel Maseh and Derrick Bunsu; Team Manager Amin Ushadu; kit officers Daniel Yanke, Alhassan Rahman and Amadou Isa; photographer Osei Emmanuel; media officer Helena Sapfi; chefs Ivy Datson and Laki Alifu; security personnel Abu Zakaria and Amuakupita; and purse holder Ajeyi Bang.
The management committee comprised Ransford Abbey as Chairman, Stephen Appiah as Vice-Chairman, and Samuel Abuapiri, Moses Ama and Richard Nsintri as members.
GFA officials listed included President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, General Secretary Prosper Harrison-Addo, Director of National Teams Alexander Asante, Director of Marketing Jamil Marabi, and team liaisons Joseph Zuta and William Bosman.
Black Queens keep World Cup hopes alive
Mr Adams also updated the committee on the Black Queens’ campaign at the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ghana exited the competition at the quarter-final stage after losing to Malawi, despite having defeated the same side 4–0 earlier in the competition.
The defeat denied Ghana an automatic qualification place for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. However, the Black Queens kept their qualification hopes alive after beating Côte d’Ivoire 2–1 in the subsequent playoffs.
Ghana is scheduled to face Ecuador, Uzbekistan and Papua New Guinea between November 24 and December 5, 2026, in the first phase of the global playoff tournament.
The top two teams from that phase will progress to the final qualification stage scheduled for early 2027.
The Sports Minister further assured Parliament that all outstanding allowances, per diems and bonuses owed to members of the Black Queens had been paid in full, including match-related earnings from their title-winning campaign at the Pink Lady Tournament in Dubai.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/ExpressNewsGhana
