The Black Stars have opted for their ex-coach to replace Avram Grant, but is he a wise choice?
Despite being linked with the likes of Hugo Broos and Willy Sagnol as possible Avram Grant replacements, Ghana opted to look to within, appointing former coach Kwesi Appiah to the post.
Appiah, who is leaving his post as manager of Sudanese side Al Khartoum SC to take the reins of the Black Stars, held the role between 2012 and 2014, and is familiar with many members of the current squad, having handed debuts to several key figures.
While he succeeded in guiding Ghana to the World Cup in Brazil three years ago—becoming the first local coach to qualify the Black Stars to the global event—some fans have expressed disappointment with the appointment on social media and questioned the Ghana Football Association’s ambition.
Appiah certainly has a talented squad to work with, and will look to get the best out of the Ayew brothers, Thomas Partey and Christian Atsu.
He’s also expected to explore the nation’s vast pool of untapped talent—something Grant arguably neglected—and the GPL’s finest stars will certainly expect more attention from the coach.
However, he also has to contend with an ageing talisman in Asamoah Gyan and the fact that Ghana’s World Cup qualification is in jeopardy after a miserable start to the campaign.
After two fixtures, the Black Stars find themselves on one point in Group E, and a whopping five points behind pool leaders Egypt.
If Appiah can succeed in helping the West Africans reach Russia, he would have eclipsed even his own feat of qualifying for Brazil in 2014…but has he bitten off more than he can chew?
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