Following Ghana’s underwhelming performance in Monday’s 2-1 loss to the United States, reports from popular Ghanaian radio station Joy FM are that the Black Stars have revolted against manager Kwesi Appiah.
Fans, reporters and allegedly players are upset with Appiah’s starting 11 in their World Cup opener that left midfielder Michael Essien and playmaker Kevin-Prince Boateng on the bench over youngsters Jordan Ayew and Mohammed Rabiu. Another questionable choice was letting right-back Daniel Opare remain in the match after he delivered poor cross after cross and seemed flustered by the pressures of the game as he struggled to do simple things throughout the match like trapping and clearing the ball.
Juventus midfielder/winger/wing-back Kwadwo Asamoah told Accra, Ghana’s capital, radio station Happy FM that he was disappointed because he was selected as a left-back by the 53-year-old coach. “I am a player who likes to take on opponents, playing at the back makes it more difficult for me, I want to play up front but all lies with the decision of the coach.”
A parallel can be drawn between how France revolted in the 2010 World Cup but the difference is that Ghana’s FA vehemently denies that a player protest is occurring.
“We wish to state emphatically that the report is absolutely false and has no basis in fact. There is no player revolt against the coach of Black Stars and no player or players have been involved in any mutiny in the wake of the 2-1 defeat to the United States. All the 23 players were present at training on Tuesday afternoon under the guidance of coach Kwesi Appiah,” said the Ghana FA in a statement released today.
The statement also claims that the Black Stars are focused on their match against Germany in which they desperately need a result to stay alive in trying to advance past the group stage. The chances of progressing in the tournament are very slim but if Ghana fails to win a match in the World Cup after they advanced the past two times then Ghana’s FA will be sure to get rid of Appiah before any revolting can take place.
SEE MORE — Read the Ghana World Cup Preview.
