Kwasi Appiah knows modern football inside out – CK Akonnor

Charles Kwablan Akonnor has described Sudan coach Kwasi Appiah as “tactically aware” of modern football.

Appiah, who had CK Akonnor as his assistant during his time as Ghana’s coach, has transformed the fortunes of the Sudan national team.

He has guided the Falcons of Jedaine to four victories in seven matches, putting them two points clear of Senegal in Group B of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and currently second in Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Appiah was on the touchline for Sudan as they held Ghana to a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15 in Libya.

“He is as good as he was with the Ghana national team. He does not talk much but tactically, the modern trend of football, he is aware, Akonnor said in an interview with JoySports.

“If anybody says he does not know anything, it is a lie and that is what we are fond of doing. He has transformed this team [Sudan]. They are fearless, very confident and it can only be the work of Kwasi Appiah.”

The Ghana Football Association Executive Council chose not to extend Appiah’s contract as the Ghana coach during his second tenure from 2017 to 2020, after the team exited in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

During his first tenure, Appiah guided the Black Stars to the semi-finals of the AFCON in 2013 and made history as the first black African coach to lead the country to the World Cup in the 2014 edition held in Brazil.