President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Ben Nunoo Mensah, has expressed his belief that former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah should have been retained despite his challenges, emphasizing the need to support and develop local coaching talent.
In an interview with Asempa FM, Nunoo Mensah argued that Appiah, as a homegrown coach, deserved more time to build a competitive team. He highlighted the team’s decline since Appiah’s departure in 2019, citing Ghana’s group-stage exits at successive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, failure to qualify for the 2025 edition, and a lackluster performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Kwesi Appiah has been one of Ghana’s best coaches over the years, and it was unfortunate how he was dismissed. When an opportunity came to appoint him again, he was overlooked,” Nunoo Mensah remarked.
Appiah, now the head coach of Sudan, has achieved significant success, leading the team to qualify for AFCON 2024 at Ghana’s expense.
The GOC president also called for greater investment in local coaching development to bridge the gap with international standards. He emphasized the historical success of Ghanaian coaches, stating, “Most of the AFCON titles we won were under local coaches. They will always be more committed to the nation.”
Nunoo Mensah’s comments come amid ongoing debates about the future of the Black Stars’ technical team and calls to prioritize local expertise over foreign hires.
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