By Simon Asare
Accra, Nov. 03, GNA – Gold Fields Ghana Limited has thrown its weight behind Ghana’s national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
The mining company met the team at the Mandiata Hotel in Accra, where it reaffirmed its commitment to the team and urged the players to build on their continental success on the global stage.
The engagement was attended by Mr President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Samson Deen, President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) President Samson Deen, among other dignitaries.
Gold Fields has earmarked US$500,000 for the Black Challenge over a two-year period under its wider US$5 million sponsorship agreement with the GFA, announced in May 2026. The investment is aimed at supporting the growth of amputee football and strengthening Ghana’s preparations for international competitions.
Mr Elliot Twum, Vice President and Managing Director of Gold Fields Ghana, praised the team’s achievements and expressed confidence in their ability to excel at the World Cup.
“You have achieved a lot for Ghana and earned our support. We are proud to be associated with the Black Challenge and remain committed to supporting football development,” he said.
“We believe in your abilities and have every confidence that you will make Ghana proud in Mexico.”
Mr Simeon-Okraku assured the players of the GFA’s continued support, saying efforts were being made alongside Gold Fields and the NPC to provide the team with the resources needed for a successful campaign.
“Ghana is behind you. Go out there, give your best and make the nation proud,” he told the players.
Mr Deen welcomed the partnership, describing it as a significant boost for amputee football in Ghana.
“This is the kind of support we have been advocating for over the years. We are grateful to the GFA and Gold Fields for believing in this team and investing in its future,” he said.
The Black Challenge heads into the World Cup with an impressive pedigree, having won the African Amputee Football Championship in 2021, secured gold at the inaugural African Para Games in Accra in 2023 and successfully defended their continental title in 2024 with a 2-1 victory over Morocco in Cairo.
Ghana has been drawn in Group D alongside Angola, Colombia and Iraq. Angola, the 2018 world champions and runners-up in 2022, are expected to provide stern competition in the group.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup will be held in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, from November 13 to 22, featuring 24 nations from across the globe.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Simon Asare
Email: [email protected]