Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has explained why he left Inter Milan ace Kwadwo Asamoah on the bench in their 1-0 win over Kenya in the final 2019 Africa Cu pf Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Asamoah warmed the bench as his teammates defeated the Harambee Stars of Kenya at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday through a lone strike by Caleb Ekuban in the dying embers of the match.
According to coach Appiah, the 29-year-old's absence from the team for the last months resulted in the decision not to hand him a starting role.
“Actually Kwadwo Asamoah was in my plans, as to whether he will start or sit on the bench you know I have to make the final decision," the 58-year-old gaffer told reporters after the game.
“For some time now, I have been using Lumor [Agbenyenu], and I believe that he had to start so that along the line I may bring Kwadwo [Asamoah] in.
He added, “I was looking Kwadwo in a way that I might use him at the back or use him in the midfield role.
“So I decided to keep him on the bench for now so as the game went on I will think of whether to bring him or not.”