Ghana’s beach soccer team, the Black Sharks, have not started their residential camping ahead of the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as funding issues continue to stall their preparations.
The team was scheduled to regroup last weekend for training ahead of the tournament, which will be held in Egypt from October 19, 2024.
Despite plans being in place, players and officials were informed at the last minute that “there are no funds” available for camping, leaving the team in a state of uncertainty, according to Joy Sports.
This development has raised concerns, especially since the Black Sharks are in a challenging group alongside East African champions Tanzania, Africa Beach Games gold medalists Morocco, and host nation Egypt.
Neither the Ministry of Youth and Sports nor the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has explained the funding delay, further deepening concerns about the team’s readiness for the competition.
The setback comes as a surprise, given that Ghana qualified for the AFCON two months ago, defeating the Sand Elephants of Ivory Coast 10-5 on aggregate in the qualifiers.
The 2024 AFCON will not only mark Ghana’s return to the continental stage after their last participation in 2016 but also serve as a qualifier for the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles.
Only the top two teams in the tournament will secure a spot at the World Cup, making proper preparation crucial.
With the tournament fast approaching, the Black Sharks are under immense pressure to resolve the financial impasse and begin their training, with time running out ahead of their first match.