Stars pocket $575,000 for CHAN final effort

 The local Black Stars’ silver medal accomplishment at the just-ended 2014 Africa Nations Championship has enriched Ghana football by a total of $575,000 in the first prize money for participants of the competition reserved for local-based players in Africa.

Ghana, also runners-up in the inaugural competition hosted by Cote d’ Ivoire, lost 4-3 on penalties to Libya in last Saturday’s grand final graced by over 15,000 fans at the Cape Town Stadium.

The local Stars’ appearance at the final earned them $400,000, while the winners, Libya  were $750,000 richer from the total of $3.2million at stake for grabs by the 16 participating nations.

Included in the Ghanaians’ package was another $175,000 for advancing to the final stage. That second appearance at the grand final of the competition was guaranteed by a famous 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Nigeria.

Indeed, despite the disappointment of losing the final on two historic moments, the squad could console themselves with cash that would add to the weight of their wallets already with $9,000 each, representing qualification bonus for the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, who placed third at the tournament, earned $125,000, while each of the participating teams took home $100,000.