President of the Sudanese Football Association, Dr. Moatasem Jaafar, has addressed concerns regarding the delayed payment of coach James Kwesi Appiah’s salary, attributing the issue to complications with bank transfers to Ghana.
Appiah, who is yet to report to camp as Sudan prepare for crucial matches against Senegal and South Sudan in Saudi Arabia, was previously rumored to have boycotted training over unpaid entitlements, sparking speculation about his future.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Jaafar dismissed claims of a standoff, emphasizing the Ghanaian coach’s commitment to the national team while assuring that efforts are underway to resolve the financial issue.
“These reports are not true. Kwesi is committed to his contract with the Sudanese Federation and will join the team as scheduled.
The delay in his financial entitlements is due to challenges in transferring funds to Ghana, but we are actively working to resolve the issue within the next few hours.
” He further reassured that the delay would not impact Appiah’s role with the Falcons of Jediane, praising the coach’s contributions to the team’s success. “This will not prevent him from leading the team.
The Federation is fully committed to ensuring the stability of the technical staff and fulfilling all obligations, especially after his remarkable achievements qualifying Sudan for the AFCON finals and leading the World Cup qualifying group.
“Dr. Jaafar also stressed the importance of Appiah’s presence with the squad as they prepare for key fixtures. “We urgently need Kwesi with us to guide the national team.
We recognize the sacrifices he has made and will do everything possible to address the situation and meet his needs.
“Sudan currently lead Group B with 10 points after an impressive start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, Appiah is expected to join the team in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.
