Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, have called on the government to settle their outstanding bonuses and per diems, while alleging neglect and a lack of professional backing during their ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign in Morocco.
The team was eliminated from the tournament in the quarterfinals following a 2-1 loss to Malawi, which ended their chances of securing direct qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
In a statement released ahead of their World Cup playoff match against Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, the players voiced their frustration over a persistent lack of support and advocated for fairer treatment and improved conditions during future national team duties.
The players noted their disappointment regarding official backing throughout the tournament, pointing out that the Sports Minister and the President were present only during their first official training session.
However, the team clarified that the statement was not meant to incite conflict or show disrespect, but was instead driven by a desire for “transparency, accountability, fairness and respect.”
The Black Queens commended their technical team for supporting them through the tournament and urged governing authorities to engage with the team to quickly resolve the issues.
Additionally, the players requested the immediate settlement of all financial dues and called on officials to provide the necessary resources to help the team remain competitive at the highest level.
Ghana is set to play Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday to contend for a spot in the World Cup playoffs.