GHANA V ZAMBIA: APPIAH DRAWS THE LINE FOR THE BLACK STARS

Ghana
certainly
has
a
squad
that
looks
stronger
than
it
has for a while, with Michael
Essien, Andre Ayew and Kevin-
Prince Boateng returning to the
Black Stars for Friday's final
World Cup second round qualifier
against Zambia.
The return of the three players
into an already strong squad
which sits top of the Group D
table and one point ahead of
their opponents has handed
Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah
enough amour to select his
starting team from.
With a strong and star-studded
squad to pick from, Appiah
doesn't feel his position will be
undermined by disciplinary
issues when his selection is
announced.
“It’s good that we get all our best
players. Hopefully we will see
how it goes,” the Black Stars
coach said in Accra ahead of
their trip to Kumasi on
Wednesday for the match.
“They are all working so well.
When you speak to them, they all
know how important this game
is, for them and the nation as
well. They’ve been made aware
of being professional on and off
the field.”
For Appiah, having a strong unit
is very important as he expects
every player to show hunger and
support the team.
“The most important thing is
having good players on your
bench and whoever starts in
immaterial,” Kwesi Appiah said.
Ghana need only to avoid defeat
against the Chipolopolo at the
Baba Yara Stadium to secure a
place in the play-off round for
World Cup qualifying.
But the Black Stars coach expects
a tough contest with either side
still pushing for the sole
qualifying spot.
“It’s not an easy game. Zambia is
also a very good side and it’s
important that we prepare very
well physiologically and I believe
the boys are really psyched up
for the game,” he said.