Former Black Stars captain Andre Ayew has called on the Black Queens to stay calm and maintain their focus as efforts continue to address their outstanding bonuses before Tuesday’s crucial WAFCON qualifier against Egypt.
The experienced forward paid a surprise visit to the team’s base at the Erata Hotel in Accra on Monday, offering words of encouragement to lift morale in the wake of the payment standoff.
“[Unpaid bonuses] is something I’ve been through, so I know how you feel,” Ayew told the squad. “Sometimes things get delayed, but they’ll be done.”
The Black Queens had earlier threatened to boycott the second-leg encounter due to unpaid bonuses of $9,500 each for their third-place finish at the 2025 WAFCON in Morocco.
The situation drew swift intervention from Sports Minister Kofi Adams and GFA President Kurt Okraku, followed by directives from the Presidency to ensure payment.
Ayew’s gesture comes at a pivotal moment for the Queens, who hold a 3–0 aggregate lead from the first leg in Ismailia.
His visit not only boosted team spirit but also symbolized solidarity between Ghana’s men’s and women’s national teams during a challenging period.
The Black Queens will train later on Monday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium as they wrap up preparations for the decisive qualifier, which also serves as part of the road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
