Players hid $100,000 bonuses in backpacks

Former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has revealed that some of his players kept their $100,000 World Cup bonuses in their backpacks in the dressing room while they were playing their Group G game against Portugal in Brasilia in June.

Appiah – who was relieved of his duties as Black Stars coach earlier this month – was called to give evidence at the presidential inquiry into Ghana’s disastrous World Cup campaign in Brazil on Thursday.

Squad members had threatened to boycott the final group stage match against Portugal in a dispute over unpaid player bonuses until President John Dramani Mahama personally intervened and arranged for $3m in cash to be flown by private plane to Brazil on the eve of the meeting with Portugal.

However, speaking to the Justice Dzamefe commission in Accra, Appiah admitted that the whole episode had contributed to his team’s eventual downfall after they had drawn 2-2 with Germany in their second match.

“Most of the players had their $100,000 in their backpacks. Psychologically that hurt the team,” he said.

“In actual fact it did affect them. There are so many factors related to performance. Players need to focus on the game. Everything erupted after the Germany game.

“I believe if the money had come early, it would have raised their morale. I do not know why people claim we are slow starters. We lost against the USA but played well and we played at a very high level against Germany.”