Former Ghanaian midfielder Laryea Kingston believes that coach Kwasi Appiah holds a significant advantage ahead of Sudan’s clash with Ghana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Following the recent draw placing Ghana in Group F alongside Sudan, Angola, and Niger, discussions have intensified due to the pairing of current Ghana coach Otto Addo and former Ghana coach Kwasi Appiah, now managing Sudan.
Appiah, who led Ghana to the 2014 World Cup and the 2019 AFCON, is seen by Kingston as having an edge due to his deep understanding of Ghanaian football mentality and strategies.
“Kwasi Appiah being Ghanaian gives him a unique insight into our approach to games,” Kingston remarked to 3Sports after the draw. “He understands many positives about Ghanaians and our mindset, making it challenging for us. His familiarity with us could give him an advantage over Otto, who may not be as well-versed with the Sudanese players.”
Kingston’s observations are reinforced by Appiah’s success with Sudan in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where Sudan currently leads Group B with 10 points from four matches.
“If I were in Kwasi Appiah’s position now, this would be a game I’d eagerly anticipate,” Kingston continued. “There’s much I would need to demonstrate and prove about my abilities to lead. It promises to be one of the standout matches during Otto’s tenure with the Black Stars.”
The AFCON qualifiers are scheduled from September to November 2024, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the finals in Morocco, slated for December 2025 to January 2026.