Kwesi Appiah has offered advice to the current Black Stars coach Chris Hughton, urging him to reject any attempts at external interference in their work, particularly concerning player call-ups.
Appiah, who managed the Black Stars in two separate spells from 2013 to 2020, emphasised the importance of a national team coach's independence in player selection. He stated his views during an interview on Accra-based Asempa FM.
"If you are a coach and you allow yourself to be dictated to, then I will have a problem," Appiah said. "It is not appropriate for anybody to do that. But if it happens, and you, the coach, bow to that, from that time, I will not respect you again, and I will conclude that you don't know your job because once you accept the influence, the player call-ups will be determined by them."
Appiah further highlighted that at the national team level, a coach must stand by their decisions, as it is a fundamental aspect of the role. He drew a distinction between club coaching and national team coaching in this regard.
The advice comes in the wake of the Black Stars' underwhelming performance in the October international games, losing 2-0 to Mexico and being hammered 4-0 by USA.
Hughton's side is set to face Madagascar and Comoros in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month, and maintaining the coach's autonomy in player selection is of significant importance.
