Asamoah To Return To Midfield ..In Ghana-Mali Game

Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah, may consider reverting gifted midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah back to his traditional role as a support attacker following criticisms that the decision to deploy the Juventus star in defence deprived Ghana of the needed creativity in last Sunday's 2-2 draw with DR Congo in Port Elizabeth. Monday the coach dropped the hint he could make some tactical changes in respect of Asamoah at left back position when Ghana play mali on Thursday, even through he expressed his satisfaction at the output of the player in last Sunday's game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. "Kwadwo [Asamoah] is a utility player and does well in any position you put him. He plays in a similar role at Juventus, and he defended well for me," Appiah said at a press conference at the team's Grand Court Hotel in Port Elizabeth. Asamoah, whose foray into attack created Ghana's opening goal by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, later scored in the second half which triggered a debate over whether the coach was utilising him to his full potential. However, the Juventus player was coy on his preferred role, insisting the ultimate decision about his role rests with Coach Appiah, who explained that his other motivation for fielding Asamoah in an unusual position was informed by the player's impressive performance as a left back during Ghana's pre-tournament friendly games with Egypt and Tunisia in Abu Dhabi. "We'll, I can't say whether I'll play him [Asamoah] in the same position in our next match. The technical team is looking at that as well as the left back position." Meanwhile, coach Appiah says tactical indiscipline caused Ghana victory against DR Congo, insisting his team would put up a winning display against Mali on Thursday in order to ensure the Stars are on the road to qualifying for the quarterfinal of the competition. "I was not happy with the performance," said Appiah who heaped praises on the Congolese team who he tipped to reach the final. "We have to do everything possible to win against Mali."