Accra: The Ministry of Sports and Recreation has announced a series of cuts on the Black Stars budget for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kofi Iddie Adams, the Sports Minister, revealed that savings have been made for the upcoming matches, and he believes more can be done with the limited resources available.
He noted that an estimated budget of over $2 million was presented by the Ghana Football Association for the upcoming two matches, but only over $1.2 million was approved by the Ministry. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr. Adams stated that the management winning bonus per game had been scrapped and that they would be rewarded if the Black Stars secure the ultimate ticket to next year’s World Cup.
The Minister explained that management members are often around the team for a stipulated period and that bonuses should be at the other end of the qualifiers, unlike players who come in and out of the team. The Sports Minister al
so stated that players of the Black Stars would receive a bonus of $5,000 per match if they win, while coach Otto Addo would receive a $10,000 winning bonus.
Mr. Adams stated that this move by the Ministry was to protect the public purse as stipulated by his government and believes results would be achieved on the field of play regardless of the budget slashing. ‘All budget lines have been scrutinised in the interest of the taxpayer, ensuring the essentials for the team’s performance are maintained,’ said the Sports Minister.
Other items slashed on the Black Stars budget include cuts to fuel, internal transport, administrative costs, and bonus restructuring for players, coaches, and staff, among others. He also urged Ghanaian fans to support the team in the upcoming phase of the 2026 FIFA qualifiers, as Ghana inches closer to securing a ticket to the world’s biggest football showpiece.
The Black Stars are set to take on Chad on Thursday, September 4, before hosting Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monda
y, September 8, 2025.