Tag: 2022 World Cup

Ghana’s performance at the 2022 World Cup is widely regarded as one of the country’s worst in a major tournament, yet reports suggest an astonishing amount was spent on the team despite their early exit.

According to journalist Fentuo Tahiru, the biggest beneficiaries of the funds were officials and delegates, including a ministry purse holder who received $10,000. He revealed that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) submitted a budget to the ministry covering 54 individuals, each receiving $100,000 in appearance fees.

This group included 28 players, members of the Black Stars management committee, 22 technical team staff, GFA officials, and other personnel. Additionally, Otto Addo’s personal assistant was reportedly paid $20,000 for the tournament.

“Just got hold of a detailed breakdown of the GFA’s budget they presented to the Sports Ministry for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and some of the things on there are interesting. For example, Otto Addo’s personal assistant was paid $20,000. He/she earned the same amount as Ghana’s scouts.

“The ministry’s purse holder was paid $10,000 for doing his job. And the most mind-blowing line item of them all was the $100,000 appearance fee for, wait for it, FIFTY-FOUR (54) people. There were 26 players—meaning beyond the players, 28 others were budgeted to be paid $100,000 each. Who are these people?” Fentuo quizzed in a post on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Grusah, who was a management committee member for the World Cup, also alleged that the GFA demanded a 50% kickback of the $100,000 appearance fee paid to him.

“I was the one who made it public that we received $100,000 because people did not want to disclose it. After we were given the money, the GFA wanted a 50% kickback,” he told Sporty FM.

“They called me and said they wanted to share it with some people who did not go to the World Cup, but that was not the original arrangement. If you were born in Ghana, pray to God to give you daily bread because it is not easy,” he said.

In 2022, then-Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, announced a $14.1 million budget for Ghana’s participation in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

While the official budget did not specify appearance fees allocated to the team and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Ussif disclosed that Ghana’s group stage campaign alone was projected to cost approximately $8.17 million.

The Black Stars’ World Cup journey ended in disappointment, as they managed just one win in three matches, suffering two defeats and finishing at the bottom of their group.

Former Ghana coach Otto Addo has opened up on the lack of opportunities for black coaches among European clubs.

Over the years, coaches from the African continent have struggled to land jobs in the European countries.

And Otto Addo, who currently the talent development coach at Dortmund has explained why black coaches struggle to land jobs in Europe.

“Black coaches are “crassly underrepresented in European football, especially in England or France, where many people with a migration background live due to history,” the 46-year-old told the magazine “11 Freund”, “racist structures are lived unconsciously.”

For Addo, the lack of black coaches is also a reflection of society: “Unfortunately, the fact is that people with a migration background are less likely to hold management positions everywhere, including in football.”

Otto Addo led the Black Stars to the 2022 World Cup where Ghana exited the group stage after defeat to Uruguay.

Veteran football administrator Nana Fitz believes Ussif Mustapha has failed in discharging ghis duties following the Black Stars exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The Black Stars were eliminated after the first round of the tournament following a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay.

After defeating South Korea in their second group game, the Black Stars needed a draw or win against Uruguay to advance to the last 16 stage.

But the team failed to negotiate for points against their ‘enemies’ Uruguay.

Ghana made a strong start to the game, but fell apart after captain Andre Ayew missed a penalty in the 21st minute, a repeat of what happened in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In an interview, Nana Fitz asserted the Sports Minister has failed and for that matter, needs to answer some questions on the floor of Parliament.

“Let’s us training people because we know that four years from today we are going to the World Cup. let’s start preparing now. I don’t hate anyone, the minister has failed and he needs to answer some questions”

“It’s about time we introduce certain laws in other sectors into football because when Police or minister does something wrong, he is being interdicted. Football rules is not bigger than the rules of this country, we should forget about FIFA”

The Black Stars will now shift attention to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set to begin in earnest.

The four-time African champions sit top of Group D with four points from the first two games of the qualifiers.

Didier Deschamps expects Morocco to cause his France side massive problems when the two sides meet in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

The game is scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium at 19:00 GMT.

Les Bleus sent England home via a 2-1 scoreline to keep their hopes of back-to-back titles alive, and will face Argentina in the final if they secure a favourable result.

“We want to have the ball to create danger, but you saw that in our game against Poland (in the last 16) they actually had it more than expected,” said Deschamps.

“We’re as good as Morocco on the break and on fast attacks. We won’t abandon possession, but when we will have the ball we’re going to have to make it count.”

He added, “They’re benefiting from a huge support, I’ve seen this and my observers have told me about. We know it’s going to be extremely noisy, it’s part of the context and we’ll have to be ready for it.”

“Good for them. We have to prepare for the game, but also for the environment of the game.”

Portugal coach Fernando Santos was in a good mood following his side’s 2-0 win over Uruguay at the on-going 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Monday.

The former European champions secured their place in the last 16 with the victory at Lusail Stadium.

After a goalless first half, Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock in the 54th minute before tucking away the spot kick in the dying embers of the game to seal a comfortable for Fernando Santos’ side.

“We started to get very high, it’s better to be calm”, he said after the game.

“It was a well-deserved victory, the team did what we asked for. We’re through now. We’re going to keep working to improve what there is to improve. What’s important is that we were a solid team, we showed a very strong unit.

“That’s how we’re going to achieve it do positive things. We will always work like this. We want to speak joy to the Portuguese and to ourselves.”

Lawrence Ati-Zigi of St. Gallen, who the  goalkeeper for the Black Stars in their 2022 World Cup opening against Portugal, was crucial to their success.

The shot stopper made his debut for Ghana at the international competition on Thursday, when the Black Stars fell to the European nation 3-2 at the 974 Stadium.

With his second-half penalty giving Portugal the lead, Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to ever score five goals at a World Cup.

Andre Ayew of Ghana then tied the score, but Portugal won and topped Group H despite Osman Bukari’s late winner with to two goals in three minutes from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao.

Even though the Black Stars were defeated, Ati-Zigi made two powerful interventions against Ronaldo.

The Portugal star came from the depths, put the ball a little too far and Zigi intervened to prevent Ghana from a heavy defeat.

With seven minutes remaining, Zigi took center stage again as he emerged victorious in a one-on-one with Ronaldo. However, the Portuguese had started offside.

The 2016 European Champions currently sit top of Group H with three points.

Meanwhile, the defeat means Ghana are bottom of Group H after Uruguay and South Korea played out a goalless draw earlier on Thursday.

The Black Stars will now turn their attention to their upcoming matches against South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2, respectively.