Africa Cup: Ghana's Players Demand Outstanding Payments Amid Broader Issues

Ghana's players are demanding overdue payments, highlighting a broader conflict involving various teams at the Africa Cup 2026 with their federations or sports ministries.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced an increase in the prize money for the tournament, raising it to $2 million (approximately €1.7 million). However, the question of how much of this money will actually reach the players has become a recurring and contentious issue, not only in the context of the Africa Cup. There have been multiple publicly known instances where players and coaches are at odds with their respective federations or sports ministries, seeking better financial and structural conditions.

Currently, the spotlight is on the statements made by Ghana's players regarding outstanding payments and their demands for improved treatment and conditions. Burkina Faso's national coach Pascal Sawadogo has also shared critical societal insights, while reports suggest that Algerian players faced threats from their federation regarding their national team careers. A contrasting example comes from Cameroon, where the government has publicly addressed similar concerns.

Ghana's Players Demand Outstanding Payments

Ahead of their playoff match against Côte d'Ivoire, the Black Queens issued a public statement via Instagram, calling for overdue payments, including outstanding fees for matches played in 2025 in Egypt, qualification bonuses for the Africa Cup, as well as group stage bonuses and daily allowances. They are also advocating for better support for mental health and overall care.

In response, the sports ministry publicly refuted these claims, citing signed receipts for daily allowances and asserting that the group stage bonuses would be forthcoming. However, they stated that there were no outstanding qualification bonuses for the matches against Egypt, as such payments were not planned.

The players countered in a follow-up statement on August 13, noting that their official camp began on July 11, yet the ministry only calculated daily allowances from July 26. They pointed out that the ministry had previously issued qualification bonuses, which made the current stance surprising.

During a training session, the minister reportedly announced that the accountant would bring the qualification bonuses for the matches against Egypt, which amounted to $700, contrary to the previously communicated sum. The players emphasized that their demands are not for special treatment but rather for “better treatment,” questioning when a dedicated budget for the Black Queens would first be made available. They concluded by wishing themselves success in the upcoming match against Côte d'Ivoire.

Burkina Faso: Coach Pascal Sawadogo Speaks Out

Burkina Faso finished last in Group B but managed to secure a victory against Tanzania. In an interview with RTB following their elimination, national coach Pascal Sawadogo candidly discussed the challenging conditions under which he and his team operate. His remarks, particularly his societal critiques, have circulated widely in the French-speaking football community online:

“Women are being lost. Women’s football is shaped by two factors: late marriage and late motherhood. We men are a bit materialistic. No money flows to a woman without knowing what she can offer financially in business or profession. But when [female players] retire, they receive 2 million Francs, which isn’t even enough to buy a plot of land. Thus, we often say, while it’s true that this is the national team, when it comes to compensation: if we want to make the women’s national team a national cultural asset, where Burkinabé can gather and watch the games from their living rooms, we need better preparation. Because when we lose like this, it’s a loss for us all.”

Since Sawadogo took over in 2021, there has been no training camp for his team. For the qualification matches against Togo in October, a victory bonus of 350,000 CFA Francs (around €534) and a preparation bonus of 250,000 CFA Francs (approximately €381) were promised by the sports ministry. However, only 100,000 was paid on the match day, and after a 2-0 victory, the amount was “corrected” to 200,000, still significantly below the initial promise.

The interview was particularly moving, as the host mentioned that she had initially prepared to question Sawadogo critically due to his team's performance but was left shocked by the conditions he described, realizing that such circumstances hinder progress.

Algeria: Threats from the Federation?

Before the tournament commenced, a separate situation arose in Algeria. National players demanded their outstanding qualification bonuses from the FAF, reportedly encouraged by their coach, Farid Benstiti. Investigative journalist Romain Molina reported that the players were allegedly threatened with the end of their international careers. Under such pressure, they appeared to relent in a subsequent letter. Similar payment delays have been reported for the U17 and men's national teams as well.

During the tournament, the economic magazine Maghreb Émergent published potential salary figures for the players and coach Benstiti, noting that he earns between €20,000 and €25,000 per month, which is more than many of his players earn in a year at their clubs. Most of them receive their salaries in France, with defender Roselène Khezami (Marseille) reportedly making around €2,000 gross per month. Therefore, bonuses from international matches could significantly impact their financial situation.

Cameroon: Government Denies Rumors and Discloses Bonuses

In contrast to the other situations, Cameroon has shown a different approach. Just before the semifinal against Morocco, social media buzzed with allegations that the Cameroonian sports ministry had withheld or misappropriated player bonuses. Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi vehemently rejected these claims, labeling them a “malicious disinformation campaign.” He clarified that participation bonuses (30 million FCFA, about €45,700 per player) had been fully paid out, along with tiered performance bonuses ranging from approximately €12,200 for the quarter-finals to a potential total of €79,300 per player if they win the title. These figures were made transparent in his statement, and there have been no known public complaints from Cameroonian players.

Ongoing Protests Amid Development

These four distinct perspectives on the teams' situations underscore the considerable work that remains. Many participants around the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 have highlighted the rapid development of women's football on the African continent in recent years, spurred by some federations investing in better conditions, such as appropriate training camps. This progress is evident in the matches and is causing other federations, like Nigeria's, to catch up. However, the instances where players must chase their payments and face significant pressure when asserting their rights starkly contrast with this sporting advancement. Whether and how these issues change in the coming years will depend, in part, on whether players and coaches can publicly address such topics without fear of repercussions.