Members of Ghana’s national women’s football team, the Black Queens, have been left stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the sudden closure of the country’s airspace.
The development comes after a significant escalation in military hostilities in the Middle East involving Iran and Israel, which led to the cancellation of all commercial flights to and from major airports in the region.
The Black Queens, who are currently in Sharjah for the Pink Ladies’ Cup as part of their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), were scheduled to continue their tournament fixtures before the regional security situation deteriorated.
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According to reports from the team’s camp, players and officials have been restricted to their hotel rooms at the Four Points by Sheraton as they await further directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
“The safety of the players is our utmost priority. We are in constant communication with the Ghanaian mission in the UAE to ensure a safe evacuation plan is activated as soon as possible,” a source close to the team indicated.
It will be recalled that the Black Queens recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory over Hong Kong in their opening game on Saturday, just hours before the regional conflict intensified.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has meanwhile issued a travel advisory, cautioning all Ghanaian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Middle East until the security situation stabilizes.
Indications are that the remaining fixtures of the Pink Ladies’ Cup against Russia and Tanzania are likely to be called off as the team prioritizes a safe return to Accra.
