Black Stars at 2013 Africa Cup of Nations competition in South Africa - Ghana’s coach Kwesi Appiah, delighted at the quarter-final berth of the Black Stars, says the team can achieve more in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations competition in South Africa.
“I am delighted we have qualified, but it was not easy to do so,' the Ghana Football Association (GFA) website quoted Appiah as saying after the Black Stars' 3-0 drubbing of Niger in the last group match that saw Ghana clinch top spot and a date with Cape Verde in Saturday’s quarter final clash.
“Niger was a good team, they defended well. But my players stepped up their performance and that resulted in Niger not coming out as they are used to,” Appiah said.
“But we got an early goal and that settled us down and I thought that we did very well.”
The Black Stars drew the opening Group B match against DR Congo 2-2 and beat Mali 1-0 before defeating Niger 3-0. Ghana and Mali qualified from that group.
Appiah said he had seen improvements in performance since their first game but insisted that the Black Stars were not there yet.
“There is still room for improvement, we are still a developing team but we are half way through and can do much better,” he said.
Appiah welcomed the return of three injured players to training on Tuesday but said they would have to work their way into the team.
GFA said the Black Stars coach on Tuesday was given a major boost when Richmond Boakye-Yiadom, Mubarak Wakaso and Anthony Annan returned to light training.
They worked with the ball with assistant coach Maxwell Konadu separately from the rest of the squad at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
“It’s always good news that all the players that you take to a competition are fully fit. As to whether they take part in our next game that will depend on their performances during our training sessions. I can’t be hundred percent sure whether they will play or not.” said Appiah.
Pana 29/01/2013/29/01/2013