1992 captaincy saga: Kwesi Appiah breaks silence
It was 1992 and Black Stars had qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Senegal, then FA and head coach Otto Pfister announced Abedi Pele, then African footballer of the Year as the new captain stripping captain Kwesi Appiah off the leadership role of the Black Stars because he was not bilingual.
28 years down the lane, Kwesi Appiah has responded to that decision which brought division in the camp of Black Stars.
According to Kwasi Appiah, his views had not been sought before being stripped off the captaincy and he would have had no qualms had the technical team spoken to him about the decision they were about to make.
He further disclosed that even though he was not happy with the decision, he encouraged the new captain (Abedi Pele) to continue from where he left off.
It was true that the captaincy was taken from me because I couldn’t speak French during the 1992 Senegal AFCON. I was not consulted before that decision was taken.”
If they had spoken with me, I would have advised them to make me the General Captain and make Abedi Pele the Captain.”
He went on to confirm that the captaincy issue indeed brought about division in camp.
“That decision divided the team, but I still gathered the players in my room and we prayed together. I spoke with Abedi Pele and urged him on.”
Ghana reached the final of the said tournament but lost 11-10 on penalty shoot-outs to Ivory Coast after a goalless scoreline in regulation time.