Kwesi Appiah Rules Out Third Stint as Black Stars Head Coach Amid Ghana’s AFCON Woes

Former Black Stars head coach Kwesi Appiah has ruled out the possibility of returning to manage Ghana’s senior national team for a third time. Appiah, now the head coach of Sudan, is focused on his current role after successfully guiding the Falcons of Jediane to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Appiah’s Sudan side achieved a significant milestone during the qualifiers, holding Ghana to a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium and later defeating the Black Stars 2-0 in Benghazi, Libya. Meanwhile, Ghana failed to secure qualification for the tournament, set to be hosted in Morocco, putting Black Stars coach Otto Addo under intense scrutiny and pressure to resign.

When asked about a potential return to the Black Stars, Appiah expressed no interest, emphasizing his commitment to Sudan. “If you are a professional coach, you must always be ready for any opportunity, but as of now, I have a contract with Sudan,” Appiah told Asempa FM. “I am focused on what I am doing with Sudan, and I don’t want to say anything that contradicts my current position.”

Kwesi Appiah previously served as Black Stars head coach from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2020. He is best remembered for leading Ghana to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where the team faced notable opponents such as Germany, Portugal, and the USA.

As Appiah continues his journey with Sudan, the Black Stars face growing uncertainty, with fans and pundits questioning the team’s direction under Otto Addo. Ghana’s AFCON qualification failure marks a low point for a footballing nation with a storied history, leaving the Ghana Football Association with tough decisions ahead.