FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers: ‘Stars will fight to the end’ - Kwasi Appiah
Black Stars coach James Kwasi Appiah says they will give their World Cup qualifying game against Uganda “their all” and has promised that his side would “fight to the end” of the qualifying series as they seek to redeem their campaign.
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The Stars face a tricky game against Uganda in Kampala on Saturday, badly needing a win to bridge the gap between them and the Group E leaders, Egypt, as well as brighten their chances of sneaking through to Russia.
The Stars started the campaign on a bad note, drawing with Uganda in Tamale, losting to Egypt in Alexandria and again drawing with Congo before recovering with an emphatic win against Congo in the reverse game in Brazzaville.
Now, Coach Appiah, who masterminded the Stars’ 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, believes there is still something to fight for despite his side luing in third position behind Egypt and Uganda ruled.
Appiah last Saturday told the Graphic Sports: “Everyone knows the difficult situation we find ourselves in in the campaign. On paper, and given the determination of the team currently in the lead, it looks impossible for us to qualify, but in football, anything can happen.
“That is why we are not giving up yet. We still have something to fight for and we will do just that. We need to be better placed for everything,” he said.
Appiah has named a squad he believes cannot be predicted by their opponents, as the predictability of the team that started the qualifiers became their bane.
“When Uganda played us in Tamale, they were able to read through our game plan and their coach said we were predictable. Indeed, until the second leg against Congo, that was what most people thought, too. The changes made for the game in Kampala is to help us carry out our game plan without our opponents figuring out what we intend to do.
“That is why we have the changes, but not because there are any other issues,” Coach Appiah explained.
Appiah’s squad released last week has the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, missing just as Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Mubarak Wakaso, who are yet to be called up since the coach’s return to the job.
A number of players have received their debut call-ups, with Hearts of Oak defender, Vincent Atinga, Inter Allies’ Isaac Twum, Kingsley Sarfo of Swedish side, Malmo, USA-based Abass Mohammed, Kasim Nuhu of Swiss club, Young Boys making the list.
The Stars will report for camping in Kenya today and train there for the next three days before flying into Uganda on Friday, for the game on Saturday.