President commends Blacks Stars for winning WAFU Cup

Accra, Sept. 26, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday congratulated the players, technical and management team of the Black Stars B Team for winning this year’s Fox West African Football Union Cup (WAFU).

The President, therefore, pledged a winning bonus of 100,000 dollars in addition to the 100,000 prize money won from the tournament, even though the team had agreed before the commencement of the competition not to receive winning bonuses.

“You have done a lot for us and we are very happy...Ghana is proud of your achievement,” the President said, when the national team called on him at the Flagstaff House to present to him the trophy won at the competition.

The Black Stars B Team beat the Nigerian team by four goals to one in the finals played at the Robert Mensah Stadium, in Cape Coast, to clinch victory for Ghana in the 14-day Tournament, involving 16 countries.

President Akufo-Addo said the success of the team had proven that “football in the country is not on the decline, as many would want Ghanaians to believe.”

“All of Ghana is very proud of your achievement; In fact, yesterday, the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was with me here at the Presidency; he began our meeting by firstly congratulating me,” the President remarked.

The President stated that victory was achieved on the principles of teamwork, hard work and everybody fighting for each other, saying, “That is the way football teams succeed, and that is the way we want our nation to succeed, all of us pulling together, working hard and cooperating to develop our country.”

He expressed the hope that the team would “be the nucleus of a lot of success down the road.”

Mr Kwasi Nyantakyi, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), expressed appreciation to the Government for giving approval to the GFA to host the competition.

He said the competition had not only lifted the image of Ghana, but boosted the local economies in Sekondi and Cape Coast, as many businesses in Cape Coast and Sekondi received huge patronage during the duration of the competition.

The Golden Boots and Best player of the tournament were awarded to Black Star players Stephen Sarfo and Isaac Twum, respectively.

GNA

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