'Release the World Cup funds' – Ebo Appiah tells Ato Forson

Ebo Appiah has urged finance minister Dr Ato Forson to provide Black Stars with their funds

Sports analyst Ebo Appiah has appealed to the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to release funds meant for the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is imminent.

According to him, the team is facing financial challenges in the United States, alleging that they had to change plans to base in Virginia instead of Boston due to the situation.

The sports analyst stated that with the tournament starting in just two days, the team urgently needs funds to aid adequate preparation before the competition begins.

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Speaking on Sporty FM, Ebo Appiah called on the finance minister to expedite the release of the budget allocated to the team to avoid controversies similar to those that occurred during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“Let me make a passionate appeal to the Minister of Finance. You see, it’s not budgeted for, and this has been approved already. At this stage, why are we still holding on? Teams have arrived in the US already, vendors have started dispensing. So it’s possible one of the reasons they changed from Boston to Virginia could be due to these money issues we are talking about.

“If the Office of the Chief of Staff or the Minister of Finance is listening, please, we have a blueprint. Whenever funds are delayed, it causes problems. That was the Brazil fiasco in 2014. It is 12 years down the line, can we avoid the same thing? Why should we wait? Today is the 8th, the tournament starts on the 11th, and Ghana plays on the 17th. The money was supposed to be paid,” he said.

The finance ministry is yet to clarify whether funds have been released for the Black Stars amid growing concerns.

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