2018 World Cup: Kwesi Appiah ready to help Africa’s representatives

Black Stars coach, James Kwesi Appiah says he is ready to help any of Africa’s five representatives at next year’s FIFA World Cup, should they require his services.

Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia are the five countries expected to represent the African continent at next year’s tournament.

Appiah was in charge of the Black Stars at the last tournament held in Brazil, and even though he failed to make it out of the group phase of the competition, the 57 –year-old believes he has garnered enough experience which can be of benefit to the teams that have qualified for the tournament.

Speaking to Ghanaweb.com, Appiah said although he is more than willing to offer his services to any of the qualified African countries, the Ghana Football Association, who are his employers, must sign off on such an arrangement.

“Now I am under contract with the Ghana Football Association, so if they go through to FA then that is different. For now, I am not allowed to work for any other country. And I can’t do things on my own accord. If I am given the clearance by the GFA I will be more than willing to go and help, this is about Africa and the most important thing is that we put our weight behind the teams to ensure they all come out victorious. If they come out victorious, it would be good for Africa and not the individual countries”.

The Black Stars of Ghana failed to reach a fourth successive FIFA World Cup, losing the sole slot to Egypt who are making an appearance at the tournament since 1990.

Appiah has now been tasked to ensure that the Black Stars qualify to and win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted in Cameroon.

Ghana has not won the AFCON trophy in over three decades. The last time they won it was in Libya 1982.