Appiah: World Cup qualification would be life-changing for Sudan

THROUGHOUT his storied career, James Kwasi Appiah has remained faithful to his principles. The former Ghana defender has only ever known African football — and his passion for the developing the game on the continent burns as strongly as ever.

Indeed, even after winning the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1982 alongside the great Abedi Pele, he never succumbed to the allure of European football. Instead, Appiah spent most his playing career with Asante Kotoko in his native Kumasi, and later became coach of the club after hanging up his boots.

This led to him becoming an assistant coach with the Ghana national team, where he was able to learn the ropes under veteran tacticians Claude Le Roy and Milovan Rajevac.

"This profession requires patience and careful attention to even the smallest details," Appiah said. "And my opportunity came at just the right time."

At the 2011 African Games, Appiah was put in charge of the country’s U-23 side, whose tournament victory paved the way for his appointment as coach of the senior national team the following year.

He then steered the Black Stars to Brazil 2014, becoming the first coach from sub-Saharan Africa to lead a team at a FIFA World Cup.

"I’m happy that I’m no longer the only one to have done this," he added. "When I contemplate the achievements of my colleague Aliou Cisse with Senegal, it makes me really proud. Others will come after us and accomplish more."

Now 64, Appiah is less than a year into his latest challenge: to lead Sudan to the next World Cup. "I firmly believe we can achieve this," he insisted.

Speaking exclusively to FIFA, he discussed Sudan's impressive World Cup 26 qualification campaign, what it would mean to reach the finals, and his Brazil 2014 memories.

FIFA: With Sudan top of their World Cup qualification group, two points ahead of Senegal, how would you assess the campaign thus far?

James Kwasi Appiah: We started this campaign with a clear objective: to amass as many points as possible at home. Our game against Congo DR (a 1-0 win) was indicative of the determination of the players, who kept going until the end to secure this crucial victory.

After also beating Mauritania away 2-0, the players will go into the upcoming challenges with confidence. These results have given us an advantage ahead of our clash with Senegal in March 2025.

The Sudanese federation is also doing a remarkable job, providing excellent conditions for us. Everyone is contributing to the success of this qualifying campaign.

Is there a risk of prematurely thinking qualification is assured?

That's right and also why it's essential to focus on each game as it comes. You can't look too far ahead or skip any steps, as there’s still a long way to go. We put in some good performances, but I'm convinced that we can do even better if we maintain the same motivation.

This link-up between you and Sudan is quite unusual, as it’s rare to see an African coach at the helm of another country on the continent. Tell us a little about this sub-Saharan alliance?

When Sudan called on my services, I felt really honoured, as it shows that African teams believe in the expertise of their coaches. During the last World Cup, all CAF teams had African coaches at the helm.

They’ve shown the world, in the shape of Walid Regragui and Morocco, that they can perform when given the opportunity. African coaches have proven themselves when they’ve been afforded the chance.

We recently spoke to South Sudan coach Nicolas Dupuis, who opened up on his emotions following June’s World Cup qualifying derby between South Sudan and Sudan, which you won 3-0. How do you reflect on that game?

Nicolas Dupuis is a true professional and his work with South Sudan is nothing short of remarkable.

From a sporting standpoint, I have to admit I was surprised by the level of our opponents during this match. The final score doesn’t fully tell the story of the game. We experienced an unforgettable moment.

The atmosphere in their new stadium was simply magical and everything went well. That's the power of football and its ability to bring people together.

What impact would World Cup qualification have on Sudan?

Reaching the World Cup would be a great springboard for the development of football in the country. Administratively, it would make things much easier.

It could also change the lives of my players. Currently, there are only two professionals in the squad. If we were to qualify for a World Cup, they could perform on the biggest stage and then tell themselves that they too were capable of playing in Europe.

That’s something that would transform their mindset. You cannot imagine how much happiness a World Cup participation would bring to all of Sudan.

You were Ghana’s coach during the 2014 World Cup. What memories do you have of that experience?

Fabulous memories. Playing football in the game’s spiritual home was an unforgettable experience. Ghana wanted a repeat of 2010, when they reached the quarter-finals, and we were physically and mentally ready for the 2014 edition.

However, it came down to small details and we didn’t go as far as we’d hoped (the Black Stars were eliminated in the group stage). I especially remember our game against eventual champions Germany (a 2-2 draw).

Have you had the chance to share your experience at Brazil 2014 with your players? If so, what things do they ask you about?

Yes of course! They ask me about the atmosphere during this competition, and if it’s different to how it appears on television. I tell them that I firmly believe they’re capable of qualifying for the World Cup.

That pushes them to fight in every game. — FIFA