Former Black Stars goalkeeper, Owusu Mensah, has disclosed that the team was promised a handsome reward for winning the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Mensah, who was part of the squad that clinched the trophy after a tense penalty shootout against host nation Libya, said that the promise was a significant motivating factor for the team.
According to Mensah, the team was given a letter by the then-head of state, Jerry John Rawlings, which they read every morning and evening. The letter reportedly assured the players and their families of a substantial reward if they emerged victorious.
"We were given a promise that time our father was is no more JJ Rawlings he was there he gave as a long letter we read it morning and evening. He said we and our families will be rewarded handsomely so we should work hard and win the trophy," Mensah said in an interview on the Ernest Bruce Smith Show on YouTube.
"That time the place was cold when we are going to eat we run. The promise was like to be house or car so when we went to training we told ourselves remember the promise. We also had friends in government so they told us JJ has seized a lot of cars so if we work hard and win the trophy we will get some," he added.
The 1982 Afcon victory was Ghana's fourth continental triumph, and it remains a significant moment in the country's football history.