Sports
Namibian officials to take charge of Ghana vs. Egypt AWC clash today
The Confederation of African Football Confederation has appointed Namibian referee Antsino Ndemugwanitha Twanyanyukwa to officiate the crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 qualifier between the Black Queens and Egypt this Today.
The match is scheduled for 3:30 PM at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Twanyanyukwa will be assisted by a duo of Zambian officials, Diana Chikotesha and Nancy Kasitu, serving as Assistant Referee 1 and 2, respectively.
Completing the all-female on-field officiating team is another Namibian, Nuusiku Vistoria Shangula, who will act as the Fourth Official.
The encounter is a highly anticipated rematch, as Egypt hosted Ghana in the first leg and suffered a 3-0 defeat. The Black Queens will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and secure another victory to solidify their position in the qualifiers.
The Match Commissioner for the fixture is Chisom Adaobi Ezeoke of Nigeria, while Tesfanesh Woreta Haitu from Ethiopia will serve as the referee assessor, ensuring the officials’ performance is up to the required standard.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has refuted false media reports attributed to the Sports Minister, Kofi Adams.
According to the FA, the Minister did not call the bluff of the Queens.
They added in a press statement that at no point in the meeting did the Minister dared the players to boycott the return league and leave camp.
The Football Association further urged the media and the general public to rally behind the Black Queens by turning up in their numbers at the Accra Sports Stadium on today to cheer them up.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read the statement below
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has taken notice of widespread media reports alleging that the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Hon. Kofi Adams, “called off the bluff” of the Black Queens during a meeting and dared them to boycott the return leg of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt on Tuesday.
The GFA wishes to categorically deny and clarify these reports as false and misleading. The facts are as follows:
- A meeting was held involving the Minister of Sports and Recreation, the GFA President and the leadership of the Black Queens to discuss outstanding financial matters and preparations for the second- leg fixture following the team’s impressive 3-0 victory in the first leg against Egypt.
- During the meeting, the Minister appealed to the conscience of the players to remain focused and to honour the return-leg fixture, while assuring them that the Government is taking immediate steps to resolve the financial impasse.
- At no point did the Minister “call off the bluff” of the players or instruct them to boycott the upcoming match. Such reports are entirely inaccurate and do not reflect the spirit or content of the discussions that took place.
- The GFA continues to work closely and harmoniously with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation to address the concerns of the players and ensure that the Black Queens receive the necessary support to excel.
The Ghana Football Association urges the media and the public to disregard the misleading reports and to rely on official communications from the GFA and the Ministry regarding matters of national football importance.
The GFA remains committed to fostering transparency, unity and collaboration among all stakeholders as the Black Queens continue their quest for qualification to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Football Association urges the media and the general public to rally behind the Black Queens by turning up in their numbers at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday to cheer the team on to victory. The unwavering support of Ghanaians will serve as a strong motivation for the players as they seek to complete their qualification campaign in style and make the nation proud.
The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has admitted that the government owes the Black Queens bonuses amid their boycott.
The minister has, however, stated that processes have already been instituted by the government to fulfill the arrears owed.
In an interview with the media, he explained that the arrears stemmed from the fact that the huge estimates for accommodation were removed during the planning process.
According to him, this led the leadership of the association to resort to using money meant for the group stage bonuses to pay for accommodation.
He assured the Queens that no matter how long it took, the government always honours its payment commitments.
According to the minister, in the course of his interactions with the players, they asked for a timeline for payment, but he indicated that it depended on many factors and he could not give a definite day.
The minister decried the situation saying that the implications of their decision could lead to a ban on the team and taint the records and public image of the players in the long run.
He clarified that he never asked the players to boycott training if they wished. However, he believed it might have been a communication gap.
He said when it comes to the management of Ghana’s football, stakeholders need serious discourse to fix the lapses.
“Ghana was nearly banned because of our pitches. We can’t continue like this,” Kofi Adams lamented.
By: Jacob Aggrey
