Ghana rewards Black Stars with $20,000 each

Each member of Ghana’s Black Stars has been given a $20,000 bonus for reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
The announcement was made by President John Atta Mills at a reception for the team in the Ghana capital Accra. The Black Stars reached the final despite fielding a young squad as many of its first team players pulled out of the tournament with injuries. They eventually lost 1-0 to defending champions Egypt. President Mills also congratulated coach Milovan Rajevac and his technical team and asked them to work harder ahead of the World Cup. “Indeed, no one can deny that we have a great team in a making and I am very confident that come June this year, we are going to shock the world,” the President said. As many of six of the Black Stars’ more established players like Stephen Appiah and John Pantsil missed the tournament through injuries. Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien made the squad but a hamstring problem sustained in training during the tournament, meant he only played 45 minutes in the team’s very first game. In a thank you gesture, Black Stars captain Richard Kingson donated his autographed number 22 jersey, worn during the Nations Cup final, to the President.