Stephen Appiah set the example in everything he did as Black Stars captain - Derek Boateng

Former Ghana forward Derek Boateng says Stephen Appiah set the standard for leadership during his time as Black Stars captain, describing him as a player who led by example on and off the pitch.

Speaking to Sporty FM, Boateng praised Appiah’s work ethic and authority within the national team, noting that his influence shaped Ghana’s most successful modern era.

Appiah is widely hailed as the greatest Black Stars captain of all time and remains the first skipper to lead Ghana to a FIFA World Cup, achieving that milestone ahead of the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Boateng said Appiah’s leadership was rooted in action rather than words.

“Stephen would never ask a young player to do anything he wouldn’t do himself on the field or in training. I remember watching him train, the way he ran and worked. I said to myself, ‘Look at my senior, how he’s running, how he’s playing."

"I need to do more. I need to step up.’ Everything he asked us to do, he did it himself to show us we had no excuse. His leadership quality was amazing. When it was time to joke, we joked. When it was time for business, it was business.”

Appiah now serves as deputy chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee.

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