Kwesi Appiah won't assess new players in 2018 to focus on AFCON finals

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah says he will not be assessing new players from next year as he focuses on preparing a title-winning team for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Appiah has handed call-ups to several fringe and unknown players during his second return as Black Stars.

With Ghana missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, the ex-Ghana captain has turned attention to bulding a team for the Nations Cup.

For next week's final qualifier, he has invited Sweden-based Nasiru Mohammed and Waasland Beveren winger Nana Ampomah.

''I am building a team for 2019 and that is why I am trying to invite a lot of players so that by the end of the year, we can sit back and say that now we are sure of these 10 players who can fit into the team,'' Appiah told Graphic Sports in an interview.

''Playing Egypt we need to raise our ranking and at the same time there are many other players who need to be assessed and be sure they could be part of the team by next year.''