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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has assured Ghanaians that the Black Queens are safe in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after being temporarily stranded due to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, which intensified on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
According to the minister, he has held extensive engagements with officials of the women’s national team and Ghana’s diplomatic mission in the UAE to ensure adequate consular support and guarantee the safety of the players and officials.
Mr Ablakwa said government agencies are working closely with authorities in the UAE to prevent any harm and to facilitate the safe return of the team to Ghana once conditions allow.
“Ghana’s celebrated Black Queens are safe and doing well. I have spoken with the leadership of the team. Our diplomatic mission in the UAE has been in close contact with the Black Queens, extending much-needed consular support. In this turbulent moment, the safety and welfare of all Ghanaians, particularly those currently in the Middle East, remain our utmost priority,” the minister wrote in a post on X.
The Black Queens were left stranded after the UAE closed its airspace and suspended all commercial flights following security concerns linked to the Israel-Iran conflict.
A report by Joy Sports indicated that the players had been confined to their hotel rooms and instructed by team officials to pack their luggage in anticipation of a possible evacuation.
The team is in Dubai to participate in the Pink Ladies’ Cup, a four-nation tournament organised under the international women’s football calendar.
Reports suggest that parts of Dubai, which serves as the team’s camping base, experienced heightened security alerts following Iranian missile strikes reportedly targeting US military installations in the region. Some hotels and sections of the airport were also said to have been affected.
