Former head coach of the Black Stars, James Kwesi Appiah in his first book “Leaders don’t have to yell” has revealed his best-ever XI for Ghana’s senior national team.
The list of players he picked may come as surprise to many as he selected some old players and new players to constitute his best Black Stars XI with a number of big names missing out.
When pressed to explain his choices in an interview on Face to Face with Godfred Akoto Boafo on Citi TV, he stated that he went with players he has worked with.
“The idea of the team is players I’ve known as a coach and played with as a footballer”. He stated.
The 59-year-old coach in his setup plays a 4-3-3 formation with Richard ‘Olele’ Kingson between the sticks.
He picks his ex-Asante Kotoko colleague, Ernest Appau at right-back and Accra Hearts of Oak left-back, Offei Ansah. At the heart of the defensive block is John Mensah and Samuel Osei Kuffuor to complete the back 4.
In the midfield, he plays Papa Arko in defensive midfield with Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah as the other two players in the middle of the park.
Completing his team are Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’, whom he played with during his time in the Black Stars, Samuel Opoku Nti, formally of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Asamoah Gyan who is Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Kwesi Appiah’s all-time Black Stars XI:
Goalkeeper
Richard Kingson
Defenders
Ernest Appau
Offei Ansah
Samuel Osei Kuffour
John Mensah
Midfielders
Papa Arko
Michael Essien
Stephen Appiah
Strikers
Asamoah Gyan
Abedi Pele
Samuel Opoku Nti
