Financial boost for Queens and others

Accra, Feb 12, GNA - Ghana's national female soccer team, the Black Queens and fifteen other participating teams in the next edition of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA's) World Women Championship (WWC) will for the first time be assured of financial benefits at the event.

Information gathered by the GNA Sports from FIFA headquarters has it that, the global body has decided to pump a total of 6.4 million dollars into the fifth edition of the quadrennial event to be hosted by China. This follows FIFA's renewed commitment to the promotion and development of women football globally.

According to the information, the winning team will be entitled to one million dollars with the ninth to the 16th placed teams assured of 250,000 dollars.

FIFA originally had settled on 200,000 dollars for teams who fail to progress to the next stage, but the figure was reviewed to 250,000 dollars following a meeting by the Association's Finance Committee. Reports have it that FIFA intends to make the WWC very attractive like the male event, which has hundreds of sponsors coming to the aid of the sport in various forms.

This would be the first time the women's championships will be offering financial rewards to the participants since its inception in 1991.

The Black Queens who will be making their third appearance at the competition this year, have never gone past the first round in their previous outings.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the other representatives of Africa.