Ghana's national women's football team, the Black Queens, faced a significant internal dispute threatening their qualification campaign for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The team reportedly threatened to boycott their crucial second-leg qualifier against Egypt due to long-standing issues of unpaid bonuses and per diems. This industrial action occurred despite the Black Queens holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg played in Ismailia, setting the stage for a decisive return fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The core of the players' grievances stemmed from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Sports Ministry's perceived delay in fulfilling financial commitments, specifically bonuses owed from their third-place finish at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Reports indicated that each player was owed a substantial $9,500 in bonuses for their performance in the July 2024 tournament. This perceived "lukewarm approach" led to a two-day strike, during which the team refused to train.

Initially, Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, publicly addressed the situation, calling for calm. In an interview with Asempa FM, he acknowledged the delay in payments, not only for the Black Queens but also for the Black Satellites, Ghana's U-20 men's national team, whose per diems from an AFCON participation in Egypt were also outstanding. Adams assured that all necessary processes were underway with the Finance Ministry and the Controller and Accountant General's Department to expedite the payments, appealing to the players and the public for patience, stating, "This is our country, Ghana, and we will honour what is due to them."

However, the situation took another turn when reports circulated claiming Minister Adams had told the Black Queens they could proceed with their boycott, implying they would be replaced, and potential CAF sanctions would be managed. Adams vehemently denied these viral social media reports, questioning the rationale behind such a statement given his efforts to resolve the issue. While expressing understanding for the players' frustration, he issued a stern warning against a boycott: “If they [Black Queens] insist [by boycotting], it will affect the nation, but the nation will be back. But as for you involved in the boycott, you will forever walk with that tag on you, I said so.” This statement underscored the potential personal and national repercussions of such an action, with the standoff threatening Ghana’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 WAFCON, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The impasse was finally resolved on Monday following an intervention by GFA President Kurt Okraku. He met with the team's leadership at their hotel in Accra, leading to an agreement. JoySports sources confirmed that the Black Queens subsequently called off their two-day strike and agreed to resume preparations for Tuesday’s crucial match. This resolution allows the team to focus on securing their qualification for the 2026 WAFCON, building on their strong first-leg performance against Egypt.