Meteors coach counts on injury free squad to progress in All African Games

William D. Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Maputo, Mozambique, courtesy, National Sports Authority

Maputo, Mozambique, Sept. 11, GNA - Black Meteors coach James Kwasi Appiah is counting on a fully fit squad ahead of their semi final game against Cameroon or Senegal in the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique on Tuesday.


Ghana beat host nation Mozambique 4-3 to advance to the semi finals of the competition, on Saturday, after losing the first group game against South Africa by a lone goal.


Coach Appiah told the GNA Sports in an interview that, some of his players battled with injuries in the last game against the host nation hence their inability to hold on to their guards after taking a 3-0 lead.


He said: We were compelled to substitute defender Rashid Sumaila in the second half due to injury, and this weakened our defence.


Abubakari Mumuni also took a knock in the course of the game and this slowed him down and it collapsed the midfield. I have some players who did not play against Mozambique becuase of injury. I hope to get them back fully fit in the next game as we seek to reach the finals of the competition.


Asked whether he was impressed with the performance of his team, against Mozambique, the coach said he was satisfied with the quality and strength the team displayed.

Coach Appiah said that though the team conceded three goals, which came to him as a surprise, it was not as a result of tactical indiscipline but injuries and yellow cards.


He said: When some of them were booked I asked that they slow down so we that I don+IBk- t lose them for the semi final game and this also accounted for the sudden rise of the host team.


Coach Appiah said the Ghanaian team needed to strengthen the midfield and defence ahead of the next game and this will largely depend on the injured players.


I'm sure we can overcome our next opponent if the necessary corrections are made to the mistakes we committed in the game against the Mozambiqans.


We need to be more focused, adhere to tactical plans if we are to win the next game and this is what the technical team will address, Akwasi Appiah stated.