body-container-line-1
06.12.2018 Cup of Nations

2019 AFCON: Stephen Appiah Excited With Black Stars Qualification

2019 AFCON: Stephen Appiah Excited With Black Stars Qualification
06.12.2018 LISTEN

Former Black Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah has reiterated that he is elated with Ghana's qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which will be held from June 15 to July 13, 2019.

Kwesi Appiah's side booked their place in the continental championship with one game to spare following the FIFA's decision to omit Sierra Leone from the qualifiers after a ban due to government interference.

And Appiah who is now the technical coordinator for the senior national team believes it's good news for Ghana and will help coach Kwesi Appiah side's prepare well ahead of the tournament.

"Everyone is happy that Ghana will be at the 2019 Afcon. This is good news and at least, we will know how to handle the last game against Kenya because I see it as a good opportunity to prepare for the tournament," he told Abusua FM.

"However, to win the tournament doesn't depend on the players that we have alone but how we approach every game at the tournament. Over the years, we've been present but failed to win it so we need to work extra hard."

He continued, "Football has changed now, nobody imagined that Korea and Iran will surprise some of the big names at the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

"We need to prepare adequately and support the technical team if we want to lift the trophy for the first time in many years. We have good players but we need to start working on them from now."

The four-time African champions have qualified for their eighth straight time since 2006 and will face Kenya in the last qualifying game in March next year to decide who tops Group F.

Meanwhile, Cameroon have been stripped of the hosting rights last week due to poor preparation.

Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah

Sports JournalistPage: SamuelEkowAmoasiAppiah

body-container-line