Former Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey’s Black Stars career allegedly came to an abrupt end following a confrontation over a $200 deduction from money gifted to the players.
Renowned sports journalist Collins Atta Poku, who recounted the incident on Sompa FM, stated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gifted the playing body $3,000 each ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
However, the players received $2,800 each after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) deducted $200 from the amount.
Amartey, dissatisfied with the deduction, questioned the decision, arguing that the FA had no right to take such action without consulting the players.
“When the President met the team at Golden Tulip, he gave them money to share. The players were to receive $3,000 each, but they got $2,800 instead. Then Amartey went to ask, ‘Why have you given us $2,800?’ That is the genesis of Amartey’s problems at the Black Stars,” Atta Poku narrated.
The FA reportedly explained that the deducted amount was meant for the technical team, who were also part of the delegation.
“Amartey then was part of our captain group. So the FA explained to him that they wanted to give the technical team some of the money, and he (Amartey) said, ‘No way. How has the president given us money, and you want to give some to the technical team? Do you know what we the players have thought about?’ They had a plan already,” Atta Poku revealed during an interview on Sompa FM.
The issue was reportedly resolved, but tensions resurfaced when Amartey refused to attend a meeting to discuss the dismissal of head coach Chris Hughton following Ghana’s poor performance at the AFCON.
“They wanted to sack Chris Hughton at the hotel. So they called a meeting that the captains’ group should come, Amartey and the likes should come, so they could fire the coach. The players should give the backing to the sacking, but he said he won’t do it,” Atta Poku added.
Atta Poku further claimed that GFA President Kurt Okraku made the decision to exclude Amartey from the team after these incidents.
“They tried getting Mark Addo (Black Stars management committee chairman) to stop Amartey from playing for the Black Stars. It was Kurt’s sole decision to kick out Amartey from the Black Stars. So if you don’t see Daniel Amartey in the team, this is the reason,” he concluded on Sompa FM.
Daniel Amartey featured for only 18 minutes at the 2023 AFCON, coming on in the 72nd minute to replace Antoine Semenyo in the final group stage game against Mozambique.
He has not appeared for the Black Stars since, missing 10 consecutive games.
Watch Atta Poku narrate how Daniel Amartey was sidelined from the Black Stars:
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