President Mahama Begs Black Stars Not To Boycott Portugal Game

Despite an earlier refutal of reports that members of the playing body of the Ghanaian national football team, currently in Brazil, were contemplating a boycott of the much anticipated match with Portugal in protest of unpaid bonuses, it has now been revealed that President John Dramani Mahama has had to call the captain of the Black Stars to urge them not to go on with their threat. The President is said to have promised that the amount would be paid by the close of the day, Tuesday.

The Black Stars had threatened not to board their flight to Brasilia, where they are billed to face off with Portugal, in the final group stages game, which will determine whether or not they qualify for the round-of-16.

The players were reportedly "unhappy" about the non-payment of allowances and appearance fees, and had refused to show up for training on Tuesday morning, a day before the big game.

The players were promised an appearance fee of $75,000 each for qualifying for the mundial in Brazil. The amount was to be taken from monies FIFA paid to Ghana for qualifying for the World Cup, but almost two weeks into the tournament, they claim they have not received the appearance fees, contrary to promises made to them by officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Reports say a desperate FA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, had placed a call to the President, who asked to speak with Captain Asamoah Gyan on his (Nyantakyi's) phone when he pleaded with them to go ahead with their travel plans, and subsequently the game, as he will ensure that all their outstanding bonuses are paid.

Sources at the GFA say the appearance fees for the Brazil 2014 tournament has been with the Sports Ministry's Chief Accountant at the Kotoka International Airport since last Saturday, awaiting a landing permit for the chartered flight to convey the money to Brazil.

In another development, the FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi has threatened to sue the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper over allegations that he is involved in a match fixing scandal.

Mr. Nyantakyi was fingered in a scandal in which he, together with some officials of the Ghana Football Association were allegedly caught on tape agreeing to fix matches for the Black Stars.