Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, have been shaken by a series of theft incidents at their hotel base in Vienna, just days before their international friendly against Austria.
The squad, which began camp earlier this week, encountered trouble following their third training session on Wednesday. Two players reportedly discovered that luxury Rolex watches worth a combined $20,000 had been stolen from their rooms. The situation worsened the following day when a member of the technical team realized that $2,250 in cash had also gone missing.
Team officials promptly reported the incidents, but initial investigations faced setbacks after hotel management indicated that their security cameras were not functioning properly at the time. The setback has complicated efforts to immediately identify those responsible.
Despite the challenge, the Black Stars Management Committee has escalated the matter by involving local law enforcement, with police in Vienna now working to track down the culprits.
The disturbances have cast a shadow over preparations, but the team remains focused on their upcoming assignment. Ghana is scheduled to take on Austria later today at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, with kick-off set for 17:00 GMT.
Head coach Otto Addo is expected to lead his side through the fixture before they travel onward to Stuttgart, where they will face Germany on Monday, March 30.
Both matches are part of Ghana’s build-up toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
