Appiah warns of no privileges in player call-ups

With a play-off place to play for in the qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah on Sunday sent out a clear message to players that he solely decides who gets into his team.

The Black Stars secured two important away wins in ten days to take them top of Group D and one point ahead of Zambia.

A 3-1 victory in Sudan was followed up with a 2-0 win against Lesotho in Maseru that helped the Black Stars leap-frog the Chipolopolo's.

The victories has kept alive hopes of reaching the third-round stage of qualifying and a third consecutive World Cup appearance as other players yearn for a return to the national team.

Though happy to have a large pool to select from, the Ghana coach insists he determines player call-ups to the Black Stars.

“It's important that all Ghanaian players make themselves available,” Appiah told www.ghanafa.org.

“Once you get everyone available, it's up to you the coach to decide whether you need a player at a particular time.”

With a final match in the second round stage against Zambia to come in September, Appiah says players will earn their call-ups by buying into his approach and demands he places on them.

“It depends on the game and the tactics that you are going to play, if they can fit in you bring them in but as to whether they will by all means be in doesn't come in,” he said.

Appiah, has however acknowledged the efforts his squad made in the last two games.

“They [players] should have been on holidays but when they came back home we took them to Ethiopia to prepare. They were really determined to win this two games – Sudan and Lesotho.”

Winners of the second round stage will advance to the final round where ten sides will be paired off for the final stage during October and November with the winners of the five home-and-away ties qualifying for Brazil 2014.