Black Stars Need US$25m For AFCoN, World Cup Campaigns, Govt Can Provide US$10m

The senior national soccer team will need a budget of US$25million for its campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and later, the World Cup.

This is according to Youth and Sports Minister, Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, who had addressed a breakfast meeting between Corporate Ghana and Chief Executive Officers of state institutions at the Jubilee House on Monday.

“It is the dream of the nation to win the Africa Cup of Nations again in Cameroon next year, and to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”

“These campaigns require a substantial amount of investment to be able to execute this mandate and government alone cannot shoulder this responsibility at the expense of other sporting disciplines.

“Supporting the Black Stars will enable the government to use the sports budget to support other disciplines especially as we gear towards the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“Historically, the Black Stars have performed well every time corporate Ghana has backed them and it is our hope that you will do same again,” the Sports Minister had said.

President Akufo-Addo who had hosted the meeting had revealed that government will be able to provide US$10million of the US$25million, inviting corporate Ghana to step up to plate and pool the remaining US$15million.

To raise the balance, the President announced that a five-member committee headed by the Sports Minister has been set up.

The committee includes deputy minister of youth and sports designate, Evans Bobie Opoku, Ghana football Association President, Kurt Okraku, head coach Charles Akonnor and former Ghana international Sammy Kuffuor.