GFA, Government Move To Secure Flight For Stranded Black Queens In Dubai

GFA, Government Move To Secure Flight For Stranded Black Queens In Dubai

By Niyi Busari 

Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, the Black Queens, remain stranded in the United Arab Emirates following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating military tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, BSN Sports.com.ng reports.

The delegation of 41 — comprising 25 players and 16 officials — is currently lodged at the Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah, after flights in and out of the UAE were suspended.

The team had travelled to Dubai on February 25 to compete in the Pink Ladies’ Cup, a four-nation invitational tournament serving as part of preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to begin in Morocco on March 17.

Ghana opened their campaign with an emphatic 4–0 victory over Hong Kong, courtesy of goals from Ajegipena Zakaria, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, Doris Boaduwaa and Princess Marfo.

However, later that evening, reports emerged of Iranian missile strikes targeting United States military installations in parts of the UAE, with sections of Dubai, including areas near the airport, said to have been affected. Sharjah, where the Ghanaian contingent is based, lies approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Dubai.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has moved swiftly to reassure players and officials. GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku personally met with the team, urging calm and confirming that the association has engaged relevant authorities over the past 24 to 48 hours.

Those contacted include Ghana’s diplomatic mission in the UAE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and security advisors to coordinate contingency measures.

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, also confirmed he is in direct communication with team officials. He stated that Ghana’s embassy in the UAE is providing consular assistance and monitoring developments closely, emphasising that the safety and welfare of Ghanaian nationals in the region remain a top priority.

The GFA has appealed for calm among supporters and the general public, assuring that updates will be communicated as the situation evolves.