Ghana's Black Maidens head coach Nana Joe Adarkwa has expressed concerns that recent comments by Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams have impacted the morale of his players during their campaign at the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup. The team's performance has been affected by the uncertainty surrounding bonus payments and per diems. Adarkwa emphasized that financial incentives are crucial for motivating players representing Ghana.
Minister Kofi Iddie Adams recently stated that the Black Maidens are not owed any outstanding bonuses or per diems, attributing responsibility for players' allowances during qualification competitions to the Ghana Football Association (GFA). According to Adams, the Sports Ministry takes over payment responsibilities when a team reaches a major international tournament, such as the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. However, Adarkwa disagrees with this assertion.
Adarkwa questioned why the Black Princesses received financial support while the Black Maidens did not. He expressed disappointment that the Minister's comments have created uncertainty among his players. The coach highlighted that every player expects to receive their per diem and bonuses for qualifying for the World Cup. Adarkwa wondered why the Ministry could pay the Under-20 team but not the Under-17 team.
The Black Maidens are using the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco. The regional tournament also serves as a qualifier for the inaugural U-17 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana began the competition with a 4-0 victory over Burkina Faso but lost 4-2 to Nigeria in their second Group C match.
Despite already securing qualification for the World Cup, Ghana's team has been drawn alongside Brazil, Norway, and Canada in Group C. Adarkwa defended the credentials of coaches working with Ghana's youth national teams, rejecting suggestions that coaching at junior level should be viewed differently. He emphasized that coaches have qualification certificates and that coaching women's football might be more challenging.
Adarkwa assured that his players remain determined to represent Ghana with pride despite the off-field distraction. He stated that the team will not lose hope and will continue to play football that will lift the national flag high. The coach plans to psych his players up for the remaining three games to achieve a good finish in the tournament.
Ghana will look to return to winning ways when they face Togo on Monday. The team is currently second in Group C. Adarkwa's side aims to secure a positive result and maintain their chances of advancing in the competition. The coach's focus is on the team's performance and achieving a good outcome in the remaining matches.
Key points
- The Black Maidens' coach, Nana Joe Adarkwa, believes that uncertainty over bonus payments has affected player morale.
- Minister Kofi Iddie Adams attributed responsibility for players' allowances during qualification to the Ghana Football Association.
- Ghana has already secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, where they will face Brazil, Norway, and Canada in Group C.
