Ex-Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey says Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah should not be sacked just because the country failed to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
There has been calls from certain quarters for the ex-defender to be dismissed in the wake of the Black Stars quarter-final defeat at the tournament in South Africa.
Ghana were eliminated by Burkina Faso in the quarter final after a penalty shoot-out in the match in Nelspruit on Wednesday.
The ex-Anderlecht superstar says Appiah started rebuilding a squad ravaged by injuries and loss of form since he took over nine months ago.
Key players like John Mensah and Sulley Muntari were only recovering from injuries when Appiah named his squad for the tournament while Michael Essien is fighting to regain his form after injury.
Lamptey believes the coach should be given another chance to lead Ghana because he has proven himself well.
The former Anderlecht player says although the nation might be hurting for missing the final spot, Appiah should be given more time to build up a good team for Ghana.
“We should support him [Kwesi Appiah] and give him another chance because this can happen to any another coach,” Odartey Lamptey said.
“It’s just hard luck that we didn’t get to our target, but I hope they give him another chance because with the young players we have now I’m sure with time we will be able to do something with the team,” Lamptey said. The Black Stars will now play Mali in the third and fourth-place playoff on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
