Don’t let anyone interfere in your work – Kwasi Appiah advises Chris Hughton

According to him, no national team coach should allow himself to be dictated to, especially when it comes to player call-ups.

Appiah, who is currently the head coach of Sudan, previously managed the Black Stars across two spells between 2013 and 2020.

"If you are a coach and you allow yourself to be dictated to then, I will have a problem,” he said on Accra-based Asempa FM, as quoted by Ghanaweb.

“It is not appropriate for anybody to do that but if it happens and you the coach bow to that, from that time, I will not respect you again and I will conclude that you don’t know your job because once you accept the influence, the player call ups will be determined by them.

“As a national team coach, the coach must stand by his decision. We see that at the club side because that is a developing area but not at the national team.”

Meanwhile, Appiah said he aims to make history by qualifying Sudan for their first-ever FIFA World Cup tournament.

The 63-year-old said his targets also include building a competitive team that will also be able to qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Appiah made a winning start to life as Sudan’s head coach after guiding them to a rare victory against Chad – their first win since March.

The North African side edged Chad 1-0 in an international friendly at the King Fahd Stadium in Saudi Arabia earlier in October.

Although Appiah's spell as Sudan boss has been slightly destabilised by the turmoil in the country, the Ghanaian coach said he still hopes to achieve his targets, having been the first indigenous coach to lead Ghana to the World Cup in 2014.

"The target I have been given is to build a team and ensure the team qualify for the 2026 World Cup and the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

"The only challenge is that there is no ongoing league due to the ongoing war which has forced them to operate from Saudi Arabia but I hope order and peace will be restored in the country,” he added.