Ghana’s Black Challenge receive government backing ahead of 2026 Amputee World Cup

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 unveiled the team at a ceremony at the ESP Hotel in Labone, Accra, alongside National Sports Authority (NSA) Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah and President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Ghana.

Adams praised the Black Challenge for their achievements and said the government would continue to support athletes across all sporting disciplines.

“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 also reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing the team with the support needed for a successful campaign in Mexico.

“This government will continue working to ensure that your sacrifices are treated with the respect and recognition they deserve,” he added.

Adams said he had asked the team's leaders to submit all outstanding documentation so the ministry could follow up on pledges and promises made to the team and work towards resolving them.

He further revealed that disability sports would be given priority, while commending 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 well under way, particularly with efforts to secure the necessary travel documentation for the squad.

He stressed that representing Ghana at the World Cup should come with the same recognition and rewards given to other national teams that achieve success on the international stage.

“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 full responsibility for the team's campaign.

He also urged the players to remain disciplined as they prepare for the tournament.

Deen announced that each player would receive GH₵10,000, while officials would receive GH₵5,000 if the team meets the initiative's target.

NSA Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah expressed hope that the Black Challenge would perform strongly on the world stage and urged the media to highlight the team's achievements.

The Black Challenge have been drawn in Group D of the 2026 WAFF Amputee Football World Cup, where they will face Angola, Colombia and Iraq.

The tournament will be held in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, from 13 to 22 November.

Ghana enter the competition as reigning African champions after winning the 2024 Amputee Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt.

The Black Challenge have also won continental titles in 2021 in Tanzania and 2023 in Ghana, underlining their dominance in African amputee football.

Coach Seth Obeng introduced his squad during the unveiling ceremony, while captain Richard Opentil appealed for greater support as the team targets the World Cup title.

Team manager Ali Jarra said the players possessed the quality to compete at the highest level but needed greater motivation and called on Ghanaians and corporate organisations to support the team.

The Black Challenge will now step up their preparations as they aim to turn their continental success into a breakthrough on the global stage.