Black Stars Coach Kwesi Appiah has stated that former Ghana International, Kevin Prince Boateng, may not be recalled to the Senior National team, Black Stars.
This is because the playmaker has failed to render an apology to the country and stakeholders within the football administration of the country as recommended by the Dzamefe Commission.
The Commission was set up to investigate the team’s shambolic performance and display in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup.
Coach Appiah admits KP Boateng is talented and a good player but his failure to apologise before the qualification matches for AFCON 2019 in Egypt means even if he shows remorse now, it will be too late to earn him a call up for the competition.
“I think there was an issue that Sulley and Kevin should apologise to the nation before they can be invited back to the national team. I say that he is a good player, when I took over he played for Sassualo and I said if he takes the step, then I will take a step to invite him then he will play for all Ghanaians to access if he can be of help to us. If that is not done earlier and we play all our games before the AFCON then it will be really difficult to give him a call up” Kwesi Appiah told the press.
For the first time, the continental tournament will be played in June instead of the initial January/ February in a bid to resolve the conflict with the top flight leagues.
The number of countries have also been expanded from 16 to 24 teams ahead of the Egypt 2019 tournament.
Head Coach of the team insists he already has his team ready and will keep monitoring them to ensure they are all fit by the time of submission of his 24-man squad.
Kwesi Appiah is convinced Ghana’s best players have all been given a call-up and an opportunity to justify their inclusion and all that is left is to work on the weaknesses and strengths and get his preferred squad ready for the tournament.
“I know my team, I know the team that I will take to AFCON. The only thing is maybe there will be injuries along the line, there may be sicknesses, some of them their form may dip, so it is important to take note of all of these things. I believe that our best players have been called to the national team. I don’t think there is some Messi somewhere. What we have is what we have” the head coach added.
Ghana beat Mauritania 3-1 to in a friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium to prepare the team for the AFCON.
The team is hopeful of winning the trophy for the first time since 1982 and 5th in its history.
By: Jonah Eledi/awakenewsonline.com