Kenya v Ghana: Old foes Kwesi Appiah and Sebastien Migné renew rivalry

On Saturday at the Moi International sports centre, it will be Kenya versus Ghana on the occasion of the second match-day of the 2019 AFCON qualification.

But it will also be a technical battle between Black Stars gaffer Kwesi Appiah and Sebastien Migné the head coach of Kenya. There have been two competitive matches played between the two and Saturday’s game is yet another interesting battle.

Both Appiah and Migné have something in common and that is the two are part of young coaches to have learned under Frenchman Claude Le Roy.

The two managers met for the first time on September 1 last year for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying game between Ghana and the Republic of Congo. Migné was then the coach of the Red Devils and nearly snatched a victory at the Babayara sports stadium but thanks to an 85th-minute equalizer from Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey the Black Stars salvaged a point after Thievy Bifouma had put the visitors ahead 18 minutes into the first half.

For the reverse away fixture, Kwesi Appiah quickly reorganized his team and without Asamoah Gyan, Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew – who all started the Kumasi game – recorded a resounding 5-1 win over the Congolese in Kintele with Partey bagging a superb hat-trick. This was a much better game and revenge Appiah masterminded over Migné.

This will be the third meeting between Sebastien Migne and Kwesi Appiah – both former assistant coaches to Claude Le Roy.

Migné worked with Le Roy as number 2 at Oman national team and Appiah had a stint as an apprentice of Le Roy when he was Ghana boss.