James Kwesi Appiah, born in 1960 in Kumasi, Ghana, is a former football player turned coach. Currently serving as the national coach of the Ghana Black Stars, he is nominated in the “Best Coach” category for the second edition of the Africa Top Sports Awards.
Appiah began his football career in 1983, primarily playing for Asante Kotoko in Ghana. In 1987, he earned his first call-up to the Black Stars, and as a former Ghana captain, he played crucial matches, including World Cup qualifiers for the 1990 tournament.
After undergoing coaching training at the English club Manchester City, James Kwesi Appiah transitioned to coaching and became the assistant coach for the Black Stars from 2007 to 2012. In 2011, he achieved success by winning the CAF under-23 championship with Ghana.
In 2012, Appiah took charge of the Ghanaian national team as the head coach. Under his leadership, the team reached the semi-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). Despite dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in the CAN, Appiah pledged to address the shortcomings during the qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Appiah fulfilled his promise by guiding Ghana to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. His commitment to improving the team and achieving success on the international stage has earned him recognition as one of the few African coaches who enjoy the trust of their federations and elevate the status of their countries in football.
