Black Stars Budget Cuts Revealed: What Was Slashed for World Cup Qualifiers?

Accra, Ghana  - The Sports Ministry has significantly trimmed down the budget for the Black Stars' upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali. Here are the key items that were removed or readjusted:

Removed Items:

- Fuel Budget: The Ministry scrapped the $5,000 allocated for fueling the team's bus, citing that transport arrangements had already been catered for under separate provisions.

- Management Team Bonuses: The Ministry removed the $60,000 winning bonus for six management officials, deeming it "unjustifiable" while players received $5,000.

- Internal Transport and Facility User Fees: The GFA's request for $5,000 for internal transport and $2,000 in facility user fees for the Chad match was completely wiped out.

Readjusted Items:

- Player Bonuses: Player bonuses were halved from $10,000 to $5,000 for winning matches, with the total allocation reduced from $260,000 to $130,000.

- Coaching Staff Bonuses: The head coach's bonus was reduced from $20,000 to $10,000, while assistant coaches' bonuses were trimmed from $30,000 to $15,000.

- Incidental Expenses: Incidental expenses were sharply reduced from $60,000 to $20,000 for both fixtures.

- Support Staff Allowances: Allowances for support staff, including medical officers, trainers, and analysts, were reduced from $90,000 to $32,000 for the Chad match and $36,000 for the Mali match.

- Team Meals and Accommodation: Officials' accommodation costs were adjusted from $33,750 to $32,500 for the Mali game, while team meals were reduced from $21,200 to $20,800.

- Per Diems: Per diems were slightly reduced from $37,800 to $36,400, with players receiving $150 per day and technical team members earning $200 per day.

The Ministry's decision to cut down the budget comes as part of efforts to streamline spending on national team activities amid growing public scrutiny of football-related expenses. Despite the budget cuts, Sports Minister Kofi Adams expressed confidence that the reductions won't affect the team's performance.

Source - Lead News Online/Leticia Okpoti