Ex-Ghana coach Appiah enjoying CECAFA experience

Today Group CKCCA vs Adama City - 12pmAzam FC vs Al Malakia - 3pm Former Black Stars World Cup coach Kwesi Appiah says he is enjoying the experience of coaching Sudanese side Al Khartoum at the ongoing CECAFA Kagame Cup in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Khartoum-based side replaced reigning champions, El Merreikh, who didn’t come to defend the title they won in Kigali last year, having defeated hosts APR 1-0 in the final. Like Appiah, Al Khartoum are making their debut in the regional annual competition but so far so good for them as they lead Group A on seven points, level with Kenyan champions Gor Mahia but the Sudanese have a better goal difference. Hosts Yanga are third with six points from three matches and are likely to be APR’s opponents in the last eight. Teams in this group play their final group matches today when Gor Mahia take on Djibouti Telecom at 12pm before the big one between Yanga and AL Khartoum at 3pm, both matches will be played at the National Stadium. The tricky bit in this group is that all teams don’t want to finish third to face three- time champions APR, who finished top of Group B with maximum nine points. Asked about the prospect of facing APR in the quarter-final, Appiah said, “I have watched them once in the second half against LLB and I was impressed by their performance, so we end up finishing third, it will be tough against APR,But having said that, when you are in the quarter-final of any competition, you have to be well prepared and ready for anything regardless of the opposition,” explained Appiah, who led Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil against the likes of Germany, USA and Portugal. Asked about his experience coaching Al Khartoum in Kagame Cup, the Ghanaian said, “Am enjoying every moment of being part of this competition, and the players too. I have told my players to come here and impress me as well as the people of this region and I am happy they have done that so far.” Al Khartoum, who finished fourth in the Sudanese league, won the first two group matches against Djibouti Telecom 5-0 and KMKM 2-0 before drawing 1-1 with Gor Mahia on Friday.

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Ex-Ghana coach Appiah enjoying CECAFA experience