Kwesi Appiah explains choice of players against Kenya

The Black Stars coach has defended his decision to exclude some key players for the upcoming Afcon qualifier against the Harambee Stars.
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah says he will only hand invitations to committed players in response to criticisms for leaving out several top names for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya on September 8.

The 56-year-old named a 21-man squad without Captain Asamoah Gyan, the Ayew brothers, Wakaso Mubarak and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu.

“If a player says he’s not well or he is injured and won’t be available for a particular match, it is my job to make sure there is another player available to fill the void,” Appiah was quoted as saying by SportsworldGhana.

“I have never had any problem with anybody. The national team is not for me, it’s for Ghana.

“I keep saying that nobody is bigger than Ghana and I’m looking for players who are committed and ready to kill themselves for the nation,” he added.

The Ayew brothers have not been part of the Black Stars since last September, with reports suggesting they are in the bad books of the coach, for not travelling with the team to Congo for a World Cup qualifier.

Ghana top Group F with three points, two ahead of Kenya. Read Full Story