Ahinful backs Appiah to qualify for World Cup

Former Black Stars player, Augustine Ahinful is adamant Ghana can still qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup with ex-national team captain, James Kwesi Appiah in charge.

Contrary to the general perception of most Ghanaians that Appiah lacks the credentials to manage the national team and therefore should be given the boot following Ghana’s disastrous AFCON 2013 outing, the GFA announced at a press conference on Friday that Appiah will stay in the job through the World Cup qualifiers.

Ahinful, also now a coach and a member of the Ghana FA’s technical committee has exclusively told 90 MINUTES how significant continuity is for any football side and the history of Ghana’s good results against World Cup group opponents, Sudan.

“I don’t advocate for change because continuity is essential. If the FA thinks he should continue, that’s what we have to accept and support,” Ahinful told 90 MINUTES. He continued: “If we should win all our matches, then qualification should not be an issue.

“We’ve always won against Sudan in their backyard so I don’t think that supposedly tough away game should be a problem.

“We need however to put good mechanisms in place and select the right players but retaining the coach, I strongly support that.”