I took over Black Stars at the right time - Kwesi Appiah

Published on: 26 August 2024
I took over Black Stars at the right time - Kwesi Appiah
Kwesi Appiah

Former Ghana coach, Kwasi Appiah, says the opportunity to coach the senior national came at the right time.

Appiah, who understudied veteran coach Claude Le Roy and Milovan Rajevac, as well as Goran Stavanovic as an assistant coach was named as the head coach of the team after the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The former Al Khartoum manager guided Ghana to the semi-finals of the 2013 AFCON in South Africa before qualifying the West African country for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

"This profession requires patience and careful attention to even the smallest details," Appiah stated in an interview with FIFA Media.

"And my opportunity came at just the right time," he added.

The Asante Kotoko Technical Director made history by becoming the first coach from sub-Saharan Africa to lead a team to the World Cup.

The feet have been equalled by Black Stars Otto Addo who scouted for him in the 2014 World Cup, and Senegal's Aliou Cisse.

While Otto Addo led Ghana to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Aliou Cisse qualified for back-to-back World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

"I’m happy that I’m no longer the only one to have done this.

"When I contemplate the achievements of my colleague Aliou Cissé with Senegal, it makes me really proud," he said.

Now with Sudan, Appiah is hoping African coaches will lead teams on the biggest stage.

"Others will come after us and accomplish more."

He believes he can make another World Cup appearance by leading Sudan to the next World Cup. "I firmly believe we can achieve this," he insisted.