Former Black Stars midfielder Derek Boateng has attributed Ghana’s failure to secure major silverware during Stephen Appiah’s tenure as captain to the recurring injuries that disrupted the former skipper at the peak of his career.
Appiah led the national team at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups in Germany and South Africa, overseeing one of the most competitive periods in Ghana’s football history, but ultimately fell short of lifting a major trophy.
Speaking on Sporty FM, Boateng said the Black Stars consistently performed at their highest level whenever Appiah was fully fit, describing the former Juventus midfielder as the team’s driving force, both in tactical organization and leadership.
Boateng explained that Appiah’s influence went beyond match days, crediting him with shaping the squad’s discipline and mentality during a golden era for the national team.
However, he pointed to a serious knee injury as a turning point that derailed both Appiah’s career trajectory and the team’s trophy ambitions.
“As we went to about two or three finals, semifinals thereabouts, I feel like if not for Stephen Appiah’s injuries, he could have led us to win a trophy,” the former Fulham midfielder said.
“But the injury came so early, at his peak. And when you start having knee injuries, it means your career is going down,” he added.
He also praised Appiah’s leadership style, noting that he led by personal example.
“Stephen would never ask a young player to do anything he wouldn’t do himself,” Boateng said.
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