Kwesi Appiah explains importance of Mexico, USA friendlies

Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah has underlined the importance of the team's upcoming double-header international friendly games.

The four time Africa champions will lock horns with El Tri of Mexico tonight at the NRG Stadium in Houston Texas before engaging the Yankee Boys of USA on July 1 in the a double-header international friendly games.

Many pundits have criticized the timing of the two games coupled with Mexico decision to use fringe players in the match due to their participation in the ongoing FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

Nevertheless, Kwesi Appiah believes the two games will help prepare his team adequately for their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

"My ambition has been to build a team for the nation and we are in the middle process but at the same we take this opportunity to look at the new players that we have, and at the same time it looks like these are only games we’ll play before our next world cup qualifier," Appiah told reporters at their US base.

"So, I'm taking this opportunity to assess all my players."

The game will kick-off at 1:06 am local time