Kofi Adams confirms outstanding 2026 World Cup qualification bonuses for Otto Addo, players

Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has confirmed outstanding bonuses for former Ghana coach Otto Addo and Black Stars players following the teams’ qualification to the 2026 World Cup tournament.

The revelation comes amid growing public interest in the welfare of the Black Stars after securing a place at the global tournament, with questions emerging over the status of agreed financial rewards tied to their successful qualification campaign.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Kofi Adams explained that a structured payment agreement had been reached between the government and the national team before the resumption of the 2025 qualifying matches.

According to him, the arrangement was based on a split-payment model, designed to reward performance while ensuring financial commitments were met in phases.

Under the agreement, 50 per cent of the agreed qualification bonuses were to be paid in advance, with the remaining 50 per cent scheduled for release immediately after Ghana secured qualification for the World Cup.

However, the Minister confirmed that while the Black Stars achieved their objective by topping their qualifying group, the second tranche of payments is yet to be disbursed.

“Qualification bonus yet to be paid to players. We had an agreement with the players that 50 per cent of the bonuses would be paid, and after qualification, the additional 50 per cent would be paid,” he stated.

“As it stands, the qualification bonus, which is the additional 50 per cent, is yet to be paid to the players.”

“Otto Addo qualified the team for the World Cup, and we are yet to pay him the additional 50 per cent of the qualification bonus,” he added.

Ghana secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in impressive fashion, finishing top of their qualifying group with 25 points, sealing their ticket to the global tournament for the fifth time in history.

The Black Stars will head into the competition with renewed optimism following their qualification success, but attention is now shifting to off-field matters as players and officials await the fulfilment of financial commitments tied to their achievement.

Ghana has been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, setting up a challenging group stage campaign.

The Black Stars will open their tournament against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23, and concluding their group matches against Croatia on June 27.