Former Ghana coach, Kwasi Appiah, has conveyed his confidence in the Black Stars’ ability to reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Despite Ghana’s 42-year quest for tournament victory, Appiah is optimistic about the team’s potential under the current leadership of coach Chris Hughton, believing they can surprise many.
Appiah underscores the significance of bold decision-making and acknowledges the quality of the players as crucial elements for success in the tournament. His positive outlook and support for the Black Stars reflect his belief in the team’s capabilities, even in the face of lower expectations among Ghanaians.
Reflecting on the tendency for Ghanaians to underrate the team, Appiah notes that such underestimations often lead to surprising performances. He highlights the history of the team defying expectations, expressing confidence that, considering the quality of players, they can perform exceptionally well and potentially reach the final.
“You see, sometimes when Ghanaians underrate the team that is when the team surprises Ghana. And it’s happened so many times,” the now-Sudan coach said on Joy News.
“Looking at the quality of the players, I think they can perform very well. I believe they can get to the final.”
As the Black Stars gear up for their group stage campaign, commencing against Cape Verde on January 14, 2024, Appiah believes in the team’s capacity to excel, facing record champions Egypt and Mozambique in subsequent group matches.
