Coach Kwasi Appiah eyes new Ghana contract

Ghana coach Kwasi Appiah has hinted his readiness to open talks for the extension of his two-year contract which runs out in May 2019.

The 58-year-old succeeded Avram Grant in 2017 and was tasked by Ghana FA to build a new team capable of winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but he believes it is impossible to achieve those targets with less than seven months to the expiration of his current deal.

With the 2019 Afcon scheduled between June 15 and July 13, it is not clear whether Appiah would lead the team to the tournament if he is not offered a renewal.

“I believe if you want to build a team which will be capable to achieve success in the future then two years isn’t enough for a coach,” Appiah told Silver FM.

”Looking at the two-year contract I was given by Ghana FA, it’s not enough for me but I have to prove what I can do within the period. I am doing what I can but at the end of the day, if the top hierarchy of the football association thinks I’ve done well and they want me to continue with the job, that’s fine.

”But again, if it happens that as a coach, you are leaving after the first or second year in office, you have to leave a trademark so that anyone that will replace you won’t find it difficult to continue. That is what I'm doing currently,” he added.

Ghana sits third in Group F of the 2019 Afcon qualifiers with three points, four points behind Kenya. They will face Ethiopia in the penultimate fixture next month.