Kwesi Appiah has officially resigned from his role on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council following concerns raised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding a potential conflict of interest. CAF, in a letter dated October 6, 2024, expressed concerns over Appiah’s dual responsibilities as both a member of the GFA Executive Council and head coach of Sudan’s national football team.
With the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers scheduled for October 11 and 14, where Ghana and Sudan are set to face off, CAF’s Director of Legal Affairs, Felix Majani, raised the alarm that Appiah’s involvement with both teams could compromise the integrity of the competition. CAF cited its Statutes and the FIFA Code of Ethics, noting that Appiah’s roles in both organizations posed a risk of undue influence over key decisions during the matches.
CAF formally requested that Appiah address the conflict of interest and suggested he temporarily step down from one of his roles until the qualifiers conclude. The football governing body gave him until October 8, 2024, to provide written confirmation that the issue had been resolved, warning that failure to comply could result in disciplinary action.
In response, on October 7, Kwesi Appiah announced his decision to resign from his position on the GFA Executive Council. This move allows him to fully focus on leading Sudan in the crucial matches against Ghana. Appiah will remain on the sidelines from his GFA duties until November 2024.
Sudan is currently second in the qualification group, trailing Angola, which leads with six points after defeating both Ghana and Sudan. Ghana needs to secure a win in the upcoming matches to strengthen its chances of advancing to the next stage of the AFCON tournament.
