Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has sought to ease concerns about any off-field distractions affecting the Black Stars, stressing that the government is determined to keep the squad fully concentrated on their FIFA World Cup campaign.
The Black Stars have enjoyed an impressive tournament, progressing beyond the group stage for the first time since the 2010 edition. Their journey to the Round of 32 was built on a victory over Panama, a hard-fought stalemate against England, and a narrow loss to Croatia, earning them a high-stakes knockout clash with Colombia.
With preparations entering a crucial phase, Adams revealed that authorities are putting the finishing touches on a financial reward for the players following their qualification for the next round. He explained that while the bonus package has not yet been formally communicated to the squad, the process is well underway as part of efforts to maintain motivation without allowing money to become a distraction.
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Speaking to Sporty FM, the minister reiterated government’s commitment to the team’s welfare and insisted the players remain in the right frame of mind heading into the knockout stages.
“The Black Stars are very highly motivated. Government has done its bit,” he said. “We have a qualification bonus for the next stage to give them. We’ve not offered that yet, but it’s being worked on.”
“I don’t want anything financial to derail them,” Adams added.
Ghana are scheduled to relocate to Kansas City on Wednesday, where they will continue their preparations before Saturday’s Round of 32 encounter. Victory over Colombia would see the Black Stars book a place in the Round of 16, where either Algeria or Switzerland awaits.
