Ghana to provide bonuses for African Cup title

Accra: Players of Ghana`s national soccer team, the Black Stars, could rake in over a USD 100,000 each if they win the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the Ghanaian Football Association (GFA) confirmed.

The association has accordingly fashioned out a system beginning with qualification bonuses that soars with every qualifying stage in the tournament until the title is won to motivate the team up for grandeur. GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi told media here Tuesday that the players would earn more money for every game in winning bonuses than what they received the last time in the African Cup of Nations. "It is a very lucrative package for the players. It is our way of motivating them to win," Nyantakyi was quoted saying by Xinhua. The Black Stars left last Friday for South Africa to limber up towards the African Cup of Nations. The team is scheduled to play two friendlies against South African national team, Bafana Bafana, and club side Kaizer Chiefs before departing for their base in Franceville, Gabon, for the tournament. Ghana are drawn in Group D and will play its first game against newcomers Botswana, Jan 24. The side will follow up its opener with fixtures against West African rivals Mali, four days later, and Guinea, February 1. Ghana finished runners-up in the last edition of the competition held in Angola in 2010. IANS