AFCON 2015: $10,000 Bonus For Black Stars ...Win Draw or Lose

The Black Stars will receive $10,000 for every game played at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. The figure represents double of what was originally approved by the youth and Sports Ministry led by Mahama Ayariga. The government of Ghana had issued a �take it or leave it� bonus package for players of the Black Stars pegged at $5,000 but the Black Stars threatened that they were going to play for free if that package was not improved. After a series of meetings between the top brass of the GFA, some senior players, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, government maintained it had no intention of increasing the offer. But the headline sponsor of the Black Stars, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has decided to top up with an additional $5,000. The improved bonus package we are told is to ensure that the players of the Black Stars go into the AFCON tournament with total concentration. The headline sponsors we are told, wants to avoid a repeat of what happened at the 2014 FIFA world cup in Brazil, when the Black Stars threatened to boycott their last group game against Portugal if their appearance fees were not paid. President Mahama had to subsequently order for over over $3million to be airlifted to pay the players. The Black Stars have been in Spain for the past ten days, fine-tuning preparations for the 2015 Cup of Nations which will begins on Saturday, January 18. The Black Stars are in group C alongside Senegal, 2Algeria, and South Africa. Ghana is yet to win the nations cup since 1982 when they won it in Lybia.