Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has expressed deep concerns about the team’s leadership, noting that over the past five years, the squad has lacked the necessary guidance and direction.
Addressing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, Appiah pointed out that the current leaders have struggled to inspire and effectively lead their teammates, which has negatively impacted the team’s overall performance.
Drawing a comparison to his time as captain, the former Juventus star highlighted how he never hesitated to call out even top players like Michael Essien when it was required.
According to Appiah, this level of accountability and firm leadership has been absent in recent years, contributing to the Black Stars’ disappointing run.
“As a leader, you have to lead. Certain decisions may not be popular among the players, but you have to take them. I don’t see a captain leading the team now, and when you leave yourself like that, the players will assume that they can do whatever they want to do on the pitch.
“During our time, which had players like Michael Essien, we fought on the pitch at times.
We fought, argued, and exchanged words, but it never affected our ultimate goal,” Appiah said.
Stephen Appiah, however, believes that the players must also take responsibility for their actions.
Stephen Appiah noted that commitment and patriotism are lacking in the current team, as most of the players do not appreciate the honor that comes with playing for their country.
“I must say that it is not only the captain. Players who come to the national team must be committed. I do not see commitment. To be selected from a population of over 33 million, you must see it as an honor.
They must know that they are representing Ghana,” he said.
Ghana’s poor performance at the 2023 AFCON is under investigation by Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee.
The Black Stars failed to secure a single victory in their three group stage matches, managing only two draws against Mozambique and Egypt, while suffering a defeat to Cape Verde, leading to their early exit from the tournament.