GFA technical director: We will decide Kwesi Appiah’s fate

James Kwesi Appiah coach of Ghana

Wednesday Jul 31, 2019. 09:00

Francis Oti Akenten, the technical director of the Ghana Football Association, says the organisation will decide on the fate of national team coach James Kwesi Appiah.

The Black Stars mentor is under intense scrutiny following his team’s last 16 exit at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this month.

The elimination (on penalties at the hands of Tunisia) from the continental tournament means Ghana are still waiting for their first Nations Cup triumph since 1982.

Many pundits in Ghana have called for Appiah to be dismissed from his post, but Akenten insists that the FA will do a thorough and fair analysis before coming to a decision on the coach’s future with the Black Stars.

“We should not be in a haste to take decisions. It is important that we take our time so we don’t make mistakes,” he said in an interview with the Daily Graphic.

“There should be an evaluation of our performance and a proper deductive analysis of everything that happened and then we can decide whether he should be maintained or changed.

“As someone who believes in team-building and development, I won’t be quick to say he should go.

“Maintaining him will be good for team-building and continuity. But as I said, it all depends on the evaluation.”

Appiah’s current contract with the Ghana FA runs to the end of the year, meaning he is set to be in charge of the Black Stars for their first 2021 AFCON qualifier against South Africa in November.