Head coach of the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup semifinalists, Dreams FC, Karim Zito, has advised former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah not to respond to recent reports and criticisms regarding his allegiance to his home country.
Following the 2025 African Cup of Nations draw in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week, questions were raised about his commitment to the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association while serving as head coach of the Sudan men’s senior national team.
The Black Stars of Ghana have been drawn into Group F alongside Angola, Sudan, and Niger in the qualifying round of the 2025 AFCON.
“People are talking about Kwesi Appiah, but I don’t see why they should be talking about him. Those in the ExCo, are they not having clubs? Kwasi is a professional coach, and the ExCo doesn’t pay him,” Zito stated to Graphic Online as he came to the defense of his colleague.
According to Zito, the ExCo was well aware of Appiah’s coaching role but still allowed him to contest the GFA elections in Tamale in October 2023.
He therefore urged the Sudan coach to be “quiet and do his job.”
“For me, I am behind Kwasi one hundred percent; he should keep quiet and do his job; if he is able to beat us, fine, and if we also beat him, fine.”
The first round of the qualifiers will kick off from September 2 to 10, 2024.