AFCON 2019: Ex-Ghana skipper Stephen Appiah excited with Black Stars qualification

Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah is elated with the Black Stars' qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which will be held from June 15 to July 13, 2019.

The four-time African champions booked their place in the continental championship with one game to spare following the FIFA's decision to omit Sierra Leone from the qualifiers after a ban due to government interference.

The Team Manager of the team believes it's good news for Ghana and will help coach Kwesi Appiah side's prepare well ahead of the tournament.

"Everyone is happy that Ghana will be at the 2019 Afcon. This is good news and at least, we will know how to handle the last game against Kenya because I see it as a good opportunity to prepare for the tournament," the former Ghana skipper told Abusua FM.

"However, to win the tournament doesn't depend on the players that we have alone but how we approach every game at the tournament. Over the years, we've been present but failed to win it so we need to work extra hard."

He added, "Football has changed now, nobody imagined that Korea and Iran will surprise some of the big names at the 2018 Fifa World Cup. We need to prepare adequately and support the technical team if we want to lift the trophy for the first time in many years. We have good players but we need to start working on them from now."

Ghana have qualified for their eighth straight time since 2006 and will face Kenya in the last qualifying game in March next year to decide who tops Group F.

Meanwhile, Cameroon have been stripped of the hosting rights last week due to poor preparation.