Seven Reasons Why Kwesi Appiah had to go

Published on: 11 September 2014
Seven Reasons Why Kwesi Appiah had to go
Kwesi Appiah has been fired by Ghana

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

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Following the news that Kwesi Appiah's reign in charge of the Black Stars is at an end, GHANAsoccernet.com looks at the reasons why the Ghana Football Association had little option but to show the former captain the exit. 

Kwesi Appiah's terms as Ghana coach did not come with so many controversies but at least there are enough reasons why he got the axe. Here's ten of them.

GHANAsoccernet.com's Akyereko Frimpong Manson looks at possible reasons why Kwesi Appiah was shown the exit despite winning against Togo on Wednesday.

Not Too Convincing Record.

Ghana lost to USA at Brazil
Ghana lost to USA at Brazil
James Kwesi Appiah’s two-year record as Black Stars coach saw him record a 44 percent winning rate from the 27 matches he supervised. It includes twelve wins; ten defeats and five draws in all competitions. The highlights of his memorable wins came with a 6-1 triumph over North African giants Egypt in Kumasi. However he led Ghana to AFCON shipwrecks with defeats against Mali in the bronze medal game. Last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Uganda's Cranes came as a major disappointment to fans.

Unrest

Kevin-Prince Boateng was axed from Ghana's camp
Kevin-Prince Boateng was axed from Ghana's camp
Alarmingly those were reports coming of the Ghana camp too. There were reports from Ghana's World Cup camp about Kwesi Appiah exchanging words with midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng over a starting role and tactics with the Schalke 04 star reportedly using the F-word on him. In October 2012, Olympique Marseille star Andre Ayew had an altercation with the soft-spoken gaffer during a 2013 AFCON qualifier with Malawi after which the player publicly stated he has problems with the team and went on temporary retirement with his junior brother Jordan Ayew following his exclusion from the AFCON squad. In order to succeed, Appiah surely needed a unity of purpose with key dressing room figures working towards the same goal. The indications are that he never managed to achieve this during his spell with the Black Stars came with constant reports emerged of players going wayward with before and during games.

One-dimension style and inability to vary tactics

Indeed, the sight of Christian Atsu, Majeed Waris and Andre Ayew of their irks stuck out in various positions and operating without being able to vary tactics is indicative of his somehow technical bankruptcy. Appiah failed to use his era at Ghana to establish his trademark but during his two-year spell, Ghana fans could not identify themselves with a playing style or system with the coach, leaving many to question his tactical ability.

Attitude and lost of respect

Andre Ayew
Andre Ayew
The 56-year-old failed to command respect from his players. During the Brazil 2014 World Cup, news reached Ghana of Appiah breaking down in tears and abandoning the team's breakfast meeting after a previous day incident with midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. Midfielder Sulley Muntari stormed the team's training grounds with four armbands while Kwesi Appiah was in control during a training session, clear indication the player had no respect for authority.

Future and ambition

Kwesi Appiah's Black Stars gave very little promise for the future. With the youthful nature of the Ghana squad, Appiah was expected to build a solid promising team for the future but seems he has awfully failed to achieve that. Against Uganda on Saturday, the team spirit was broke and played without cohesion.

Lack of boldness in decision making

Andre Ayew walking to the touchline at the Stade Kegeue to seemingly instruct Kwesi Appiah what to do and choosing Solomon Asante, Majeed Waris and Edwin Gyimah for one substitution in the last ten minutes of the game says it all. Appiah seemed confused from the touchline and lacked the testicular fortitude to stand by his decisions. He very much kowtowed to pressure under his spell and it pointed him out.

Open rejection of technical adviser 

Kwesi Appiah openly rejected Milo's return
Kwesi Appiah openly rejected Milo's return
Kwesi Appiah came on head-on-frontal collision with the Ghana Football Association on Saturday after he failed to inspire his side to victory over Uganda in Kumasi, he publicly declared he has not need a technical adviser though the Ghana Football Association had confirm it. A comment, that directly undermine the GFA's decision to upgrade Ghana's technical bench with experienced minds.

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