Ghana’s Black Stars arrived in Vienna with football on their minds, but an unsettling incident off the pitch has cast a shadow over their preparations ahead of Friday’s international friendly against Austria.
The national football team has been hit by a robbery at their hotel in the Austrian capital, with cash and luxury watches reported stolen from the rooms of players and management committee members. A source at the Ghana Football Association confirmed the incident, which has since drawn the attention of Austrian authorities.
Gabby Ofei of the Citi Sport Desk, reporting live on Citi Prime News on Friday, March 27, 2026, was first to put numbers to the loss. According to his account, thieves made off with $2,250 in cash and two Rolex watches, the cash belonging to members of the management committee, and the watches to players.
“The report that came in indicates that two valuables have been stolen, a $2,250 cash and two Rolex watches,” Ofei said. “The report indicated that cash belongs to management committee members, and the watches are for the players.”
What has made the investigation particularly frustrating, however, is a glaring gap in the hotel’s security infrastructure. The CCTV cameras at the facility where the Black Stars are lodged were reportedly not functioning at the time of the incident, a revelation that has significantly hampered efforts to identify those responsible.
“The hotel indicated that their CCTV cameras are not functioning, which has made it difficult for the FA to furnish the Austrian police with proper evidence,” Ofei added.
Without usable footage, investigators are left piecing together the incident through other means, slowing what would otherwise have been a more straightforward process of identifying the culprits.
Despite the unsettling turn of events, those close to the team say the mood in camp remains composed. Officials confirmed that players and technical staff are calm and focused, determined not to let the off-field disturbance derail their preparations for the scheduled match.
The Ghana Football Association, for its part, says it is working closely with the relevant authorities in Austria to support the investigation and has pledged to provide further updates as the situation develops.
For now, the Black Stars are pressing on, keeping their eyes on the game, even as the search for answers continues behind the scenes.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com