The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken decisive action against James Kwesi Appiah, directing him to relinquish one of his positions due to a conflict of interest. This decision comes ahead of Ghana’s crucial African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan.

Background

Kwesi Appiah currently holds two influential positions in African football:

1. Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
2. Head coach of Sudan’s national team

Both Ghana and Sudan are set to face each other in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, creating an apparent conflict of interest.

CAF’s Official Statement

In an official letter to Kwesi Appiah, CAF emphasized the gravity of the situation:

“As you already know, Ghana and Sudan are in the same pool for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers… Your dual roles create an apparent conflict of interest, contrary to CAF Statutes and the FIFA Code of Ethics.

“To preserve the integrity of the AFCON qualifiers, we urge you to take immediate action to resolve this conflict of interest, including, at a minimum, temporarily stepping down from one of the two roles until the conclusion of the Competition.”

Kwesi Appiah has been given a clear ultimatum by CAF:

– Resolve the conflict of interest issue by Tuesday, October 8, 2024
– Temporarily step down from one of the two roles until the Competition concludes

Failure to comply may lead to:

– Escalation to the CAF Disciplinary Board
– Sanctions or penalties

The stakes are high as Ghana prepares to face Sudan:

– Ghana vs. Sudan: Accra Sports Stadium, Thursday, October 10
– Sudan vs. Ghana: Benina, Libya, Monday, October 14

Kwesi Appiah must make a decision by October 8, 2024, to avoid further action. The outcome will have significant implications for his future in African football.

The CAF’s decision underscores its commitment to upholding the integrity of the beautiful game, ensuring fair play and preventing conflicts of interest.