State hands Black Stars $600,000 bonus

The Ghana Government has rewarded the Black Stars squad for their efforts at winning silver at the African Nations Cup team with a total cash prize of $600,000.

All 23 players on Ghana's roster for the competition plus the seven-member technical team headed by Milovan Rajevac will each pick up $20,000, the government announced on Tuesday in Accra.

President John Evans Atta Mills confirmed the presentation during a lunch hosted at the Presidency in honour of the entire team following their campaign at the tournament.

The Black Stars dogged by injuries in the run up to the competition after an opening day defeat to Ivory Coast defied all pre-tournament predictions to sweep aside Burkina Faso, hosts Angola and Nigeria on their way to the finals.

However, the team missed the glory as holders Egypt won the tie lost 1:0 in the final on Sunday.

At the function, Ghana captain Richard Kingson donated his autographed number 22 jersey, worn during the Nations Cup final to the President.