Author: Sammy Heywood Okine
Hon. Kofi Adams, Minister of Sports and Recreation with the support of the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana has unveiled the Black Challenge team going to represent Ghana at the 2026 WAFF World Cup in Mexico.
The ceremony took place at the ESP Hotel at Labone, where Hon. Kofi Adams hailed the team’s performance that has made them to represent Africa and promised that the government is supporting all sports disciplines as no one will be left out.
“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,” Mr Adams said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the team receives the necessary support for a smooth campaign in Mexico.
“This government will continue working to ensure that your sacrifices are treated with the respect and recognition they deserve. I’ve requested your leaders to bring all documentation so we can follow up on the pledges or promises that have been made verbally, so we can find a way to resolve those things so that there will be joy and happiness in their hearts as they represent Ghana,” he said.
He noted that priority will be given to disability sports stars and commended Goldfields Ghana for proposing to sponsor the disability sports to a tune of $500,000 with $250,000 going into the preparations of the Black Challenge.
Samson Deen who is the brain behind the success of the team said all preparations have been made for them to secure travelling documents as flying to Mexico is not easy.
He asserted that the Black Challenge deserved everything that sports winners win for the nation and prayed that at the right time they would be rewarded accordingly.
He appealed to the government and Ministry of Sports and Recreation to take responsibility since the Black Challenge represents the Republic of Ghana and they have proved to be worthy winners.
Mr. Deen called on the players to maintain discipline as they prepare for the competition.
He announced that each player would receive GH₵10,000, while officials get GH₵5,000 if the team meets the initiative’s target.
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah hoped that the team would excel at the world level. He charged the media to report and highlight the success story of the Black Challenge.
The Black Challenge are drawn in Group D for 2026 WAFF Amputee Football World Cup in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico.Mexico.
Ghana’s national amputee football team, the BlackChallenge, will face Angola, Colombia and Iraq at the 2026 WAFF Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico, scheduled for November 13–22.
The reigning African champions will now turn their attention to preparations for the global tournament and they are hopeful of conquering the world.
The Ghana National Amputee Football team known as The Black Challenge is coached by Seth Obeng who introduced his players at the ceremony.
Richard Opentil, skipper of the team, appealed for support to be able to win the world cup.
The Black Challenge are representing the continent after winning the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations (AAFCON) held in Cairo, Egypt.
Earlier they have won the continent’s tournaments in 2021 in Tanzania and 2023 in Ghana.
Team Manager Ali Jarra said the players are good but lack motivation and urged Ghanaians and corporate Ghana to support them.
