Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah steps down from Ghana FA role

Former Black Stars coach prioritises Sudan duties as CAF flags conflict of interest in dual roles

Kwesi Appiah has temporarily stepped down from his role on the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council to focus on his duties as head coach of Sudan ahead of the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The former Black Stars coach announced on Monday that he would temporarily leave the powerful Executive Council (ExCo), which makes key decisions about Ghana football, including those affecting the Black Stars. Appiah had won a seat on the ExCo during last year’s Ghana FA elective congress, but he has been compelled to step aside until November due to a conflict of interest.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) sent Appiah a letter requesting that he resolve the issue, as his role with both the Ghana FA and Sudan’s national team presented a conflict, particularly with Sudan facing Ghana in crucial qualifiers this month.

The letter, signed by CAF’s Director of Legal Affairs, Felix Majani, stated that Appiah’s dual roles violated CAF Statutes and the FIFA Code of Ethics.

“I urge you to take immediate action to resolve this conflict of interest, including, at a minimum, temporarily stepping down from one of the two roles until the conclusion of the competition,” Majani wrote.

Despite previous calls for Appiah to step down after the qualifiers draw, he initially chose to stay on. However, the CAF directive has led him to make the difficult decision. Ghana will face Sudan at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, October 11, with the return leg in Libya on October 14.

Ghana, without a win after two games, must secure victories in both matches to boost their chances of qualifying. Sudan, with three points, currently sits second in the group behind leaders Angola, who have six points after defeating both Ghana and Sudan.