Sports News of Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Source: GFA

Ghana look ahead to World Cup qualifiers

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, might be smarting from an Africa Cup of Nations title miss but he is already back to work, planning for the future.

With the 2014 World Cup qualifiers returning next month, Appiah has started preparations in earnest for the Group D fixture against Sudan.

The Black Stars coach was in the stands on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium when Asante Kotoko thrashed Equatorial Guinea side, Sony Ela Nguema 7-0 in the preliminary first leg match of the Caf Champions League.

“I can assure the public and the people of Ghana that we have already started putting hands together to make sure that we improve upon our performance at the Africa Cup of Nations,” Kwesi Appiah said.

Appiah is not scared of scouring for fresh talents from the domestic front after he handed three - goalkeeper Fatau Dauda, Solomon Asante and Richard Kissi Boateng - locals, their Nations Cup football experience.

“I totally believe that looking at the performance of even the local ones that we introduced, they have shown that given the chance they can perform.

“Apart from that, we are looking at the future and to build the future, you need to start from somewhere. We have seen more talents coming up and we will be looking at players who are really committed to sacrificing themselves for the nation.”

The locals who played at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa did not disappoint and their emergence on the big stage has given the Black Stars coach confidence.

“We will continue monitoring our local league and at the same time those players who are really doing very well and willing to serve Ghana. We will do our best and make sure that we will not be looking back. We will correct our mistakes and make sure that the Black Stars will be able to raise talents to rise to our level,” Appiah said.

Ghana will play Sudan at home on 23rd March in the African qualifying campaign.