Kwesi Appiah, the head coach of Sudan's national football team, has temporarily stepped down from his position on the Executive Council (EXCO) of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

This decision follows a directive from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) highlighting a conflict of interest due to Appiah's dual roles.

The CAF's decision came to light as Ghana and Sudan are set to meet in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with matches scheduled for October 11 and 14, 2024. The governing body of African football identified Appiah's simultaneous involvement as both a coach in the qualifiers and an EXCO member of the GFA as a clear conflict of interest. This conflict arises from potential scenarios where decisions made by the GFA could directly influence Sudan's and Ghana's standings or strategies in the qualifiers.

Kwesi Appiah, a seasoned coach with a rich history in African football, including leading Ghana to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, announced his temporary resignation from the GFA's EXCO on Monday, October 7, 2024.



This move was made to comply with CAF's request, aiming to avoid any appearance of impropriety or influence over matches involving Ghana, where he holds significant influence.

The CAF's letter, dated October 6, 2024, urged Appiah to resolve the conflict by stepping down from one of his roles at least until the conclusion of the AFCON qualifiers in November 2024. Appiah chose to focus solely on his coaching responsibilities with Sudan, a decision that reflects his commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game.

This scenario has sparked discussions within the football community about the ethics of dual roles in sports governance and coaching. Dr. Randy Abbey, another member of the GFA's EXCO, had previously voiced concerns over Appiah's dual role, describing it as an "untidy situation."

The pressure on Appiah intensified when it was noted that he had not attended any EXCO meetings since Sudan was drawn with Ghana in the qualifiers, perhaps to distance himself from discussions that could affect the upcoming matches.