Black Stars win at AFCON 2019 will be due to players wit not Appiah’s coaching – Songo

Ahead of their first match against Benin on Tuesday, June 25, Ghana’s Black Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah has been slammed by Patrick Osei Agyemang.

Osei Agyemang better known as Countryman Songo reckons the Black Stars are heading to the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCONS) without a coach.

On ‘Ekosiisen’ show on Asempa FM hosted by Osei Bonsu, Songo submitted he expects this year’s tournament to see the display of fantastic football because of the game’s reach globally noting there were no longer minnows on the continent.

Asked about Ghana’s chances at the tournament, Songo answered:

“Our problem is we don’t have a coach. You have somebody standing there as a coach being paid with the taxpayer’s money but he is not learning. I can’t see which tactics he is going to deploy. I have seen him coach and coach and I see nothing different.”

He continued: “Don’t forget he’s been to this tournament before and it was Burkina Faso which eliminated us. He let the team to the World Cup, it was terrible.”

While Osie Bonsu submitted that the Ghana-German game at the 2014 World Cup was described as one of the best games by FIFA giving cause to be happy about the country’s football; Songo would not have any of that.

“How about the one who took the cup home? We love to be delighted with little gains, and not strive for the ultimate. We must be the best, first, take the cup. There’s no gain in playing the best match but failing to win, what use is that?” he queried.

“In todays’ game, it is coaches who win matches despite having intelligent players. Selectin is based on tactics enabling the players to deliver but I don’t see that ability in our coach,” Songo poured out.

Playing the devil’s advocate, host Osie Bonsu queried if Appiah wasn’t working with a team whereupon Songo who is a sports host, commentator and something of a public figure stated Appiah has shown he has no football philosophy which guided his work.

Giving better particulars on his poor regard for Appiah as a coach, Songo rendered: “His substitutions are poor especially in the second half of matches. Even with wins recorded, those matches were difficult for them and often it was the players whom used their wit to prevail and not because Appiah rightly read the game and made stellar changes.”

According to the ‘Fire for Fire’ TV host, once the tax payers funds is being utilised on the Stars, they must bring the AFOCN trophy home after nearly four decades of trophy drought especially when the team has benefited from camping in expensive Dubai, get their per diems all to facilitate a smooth preparation and performance in Egypt.

Ghana’s Black Stars will play its group matches against Benin and Cameroon before moving to Suez for the final Group F fixture. They are in Group F with Guinea-Bissau, Benin and Cameroon.

The stars played two warm-up games against Namibia and South Africa; losing to Namibia and playing a drawn game with South Africa. Ghana’s opening match will be against Benin on 25 June at the Ismailia Stadium. Ghanaians remain nonchalant about the Stars now but should they win some games and advance, the country of 30 million citizens will erupt in thunderous celebration rallying to cheer on the team.