Thomas Partey: Instability hurt Ghana’s 2018 hopes

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Nov 05, 2017. 10:00

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has said that the national team’s instability played a major role in their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

The Black Stars swapped out coaches midway through the campaign, with James Kwesi Appiah returning to the team to replace Avram Grant.

Under the Israeli’s guidance, Ghana claimed just one point from their first two Group E matches and have never been able to make up the ground on Egypt, who secured qualification with a game to spare.

"It was a shame to lose Avram Grant because he is a great manager," Partey told Kwese ESPN. "Now, Appiah is here and he is also a great coach.

"Each one comes with their own ideas and as the managers changed, there were changes in the team so we needed some time to settle," he added.

"I think that is why qualification did not go well.

"We are disappointed not to have qualified but our focus now is to keep pushing in order to improve."

The Black Stars will wrap up their qualification campaign with a clash at home to Egypt next weekend, where only pride will be at stake.