Ghana’s national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, have received government backing ahead of their campaign at the 2026 WAFF Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams, together with National Sports Authority (NSA) Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana president Samson Deen, unveiled the team at a ceremony at the ESP Hotel in Labone.
The Black Challenge will represent Africa at the tournament after winning the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt.
Ghana have been drawn in Group D alongside Angola, Colombia and Iraq, with the World Cup scheduled to take place in San Juan de los Lagos from 13 to 22 November.
Adams praised the team for their achievements and said the government would provide the necessary support to help them prepare for the tournament.
“These gentlemen deserve our attention and support. Their story should not be important only when they win something. Don’t wait for them to win a trophy, help them to win the trophies. We must start with the preparation, the difficult moment and the journey itself,” Adams said.
He said the government would work to ensure the players’ sacrifices received the recognition they deserved.
“This government will continue working to ensure that your sacrifices are treated with the respect and recognition they deserve,” he added.
Adams also disclosed that the ministry had asked the team’s leadership to submit all outstanding documentation to enable the government to follow up on previous pledges and commitments.
He said disability sports would be given greater attention and commended Gold Fields Ghana for proposing a $500,000 sponsorship package for disability sports, with $250,000 earmarked for the Black Challenge’s preparations.
Samson Deen, who has played a key role in the development of the team, said preparations were under way, particularly efforts to secure the necessary travel documentation for the squad.
He stressed that representing Ghana at a global tournament required significant financial and logistical support.
“The Black Challenge deserves everything that sports winners win for the nation,” Deen said, while appealing to the government and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to take responsibility for the team’s campaign.
Deen also urged the players to maintain discipline as they prepare for the tournament.
He announced that each player would receive GH₵10,000, while officials would receive GH₵5,000 if the team achieves the target set under the initiative.
NSA director general Yaw Ampofo Ankrah expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete at the highest level and urged the media to give greater prominence to their achievements.
Black Challenge head coach Seth Obeng introduced his squad during the ceremony, while captain Richard Opentil appealed for further support as the team seeks to win the World Cup.
The Black Challenge have established themselves as one of Africa’s leading amputee football teams, having won continental titles in Tanzania in 2021, Ghana in 2023 and Egypt in 2024.
Team manager Ali Jarra said the players had the quality to succeed but needed greater motivation and called on individuals and corporate Ghana to support their World Cup campaign.
The Black Challenge will now intensify preparations for their Group D matches as they seek to follow their continental success with a strong showing on the world stage.
