The Black Queens have questioned the timing of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation’s response to their concerns over outstanding payments, insisting that going public was a last resort after repeated attempts to engage the Ministry privately.
The players’ response comes after the Ministry stated that there are no outstanding per diem payments owed to members of the Black Queens.
In a statement issued on August 12, 2026, the players called on the government to settle several outstanding financial and welfare commitments, including bonuses from the Egypt 2025 campaign, the WAFCON qualification bonus, group-stage bonuses and per diem allowances.
However, in a fresh statement released on August 13, the players said they were disappointed that the Ministry responded publicly without first engaging them directly.
“We note that the Ministry was able to issue a public statement addressing our concerns, yet there was no direct response to the players,” the statement said.
The players said they had made repeated attempts to contact the Ministry but received no acknowledgement, clear update or meaningful communication regarding the outstanding issues.
They stressed that taking their concerns public was not their preferred option.
“Going public was not our preferred choice. It was a last resort after our attempts to communicate were met with continued silence,” the players said.
“Had the Ministry engaged with us directly, we would have preferred to resolve these matters privately and constructively.”
Black Queens question per diem payments
The players also sought clarification over the Ministry’s position that there are no outstanding per diem payments.
According to the Black Queens, their official camp began on July 11, meaning they believe their per diem payments should have covered the period from the beginning of camp.
“Our question is simple: why were the per diems not paid from the start of camp?” the players asked.
They noted that while the Ministry referred to payments made from July 26 onwards, their official duties had begun on July 11.
“We believe this period should also be accounted for and clarified,” the statement added.
Players raise questions over qualification bonus
The Black Queens also challenged the Ministry’s position regarding the WAFCON qualification bonus.
The players said the same Ministry had paid them a qualification bonus the previous year, making them surprised by the current claim that there is no qualification bonus under the existing framework.
They further alleged that during a visit to their training session on July 28, Sports Minister Kofi Adams told them that an accountant would bring their qualification bonuses for the Egypt matches.
According to the players, the accountant later arrived with $700, which they said was not the qualification bonus that had been communicated to them.
“He brought only $700, which he also shared on his social media. This was not the qualification bonus communicated to us,” the players said.
They are therefore calling for clarity and consistency regarding the financial commitments made to the team.
The Black Queens stressed that their concerns are not intended to create conflict with the Ministry or the government, but are aimed at securing better communication, transparency, accountability and respect for the players.
“We are not trying to create conflict. We are simply asking for basic communication, respect, transparency and accountability from those responsible for supporting the Black Queens,” the statement concluded.
The dispute comes as the Black Queens prepare for their next assignment, with the players seeking to resolve the outstanding financial and welfare concerns while remaining focused on their duties with the national team.
