Played out of position: Former Asante Kotoko Striker fingers Kwesi Appiah for his 2019 AFCON drop

Former Asante Kotoko forward Abdul Fatawu Safiu reveals that Kwesi Appiah played him in midfield when he knew he was a striker before dropping him ahead of the African cup of Nations in 2019.

Safiu, 27, was in his elements with the Porcupine Warriors in the 2018/19 season in the local and CAF Confederations cup.

Abdul Fatawu Safiu was part of the provisional squad to the AFCON in Egypt but was dropped after the training camp in Dubai.

Recently, there've been reports of locally-based players been played out of position when they are invited into the national team.

Augustine Okrah was reported to have rejected the call-up to the Black Stars ahead of the Kirin tournament in Japan for the same reason, been deployed out of position.

Abdul Fatawu Safiu says then head coach, Kwesi Appiah, played him out of position before sending him home ahead of the AFCON.

"When I was called, I was number 9, number 10. But they said I should play 6 or 8. So I was playing with Afriyie Acquah in the midfield but I wasn't a midfielder," he said on Angel TV.

"They put me there and had to do my best and play. I did well but that's what happened. So, the next day I had to pack my things and come home. 

"I didn't want to say it but don't want to cover anyone. When someone hits you hard, you have to come and hit the person hard too. I didn't want to talk but it was painful.

"The moment I saw the list and I saw my name under midfield was like, what's going on? Imagine, Mubarak Wakaso is there Thomas Partey, Acquah and Kwadwo Asamoah and you put me in midfield.

"If you are somebody who is smart, you'll know you will come back home," he concluded.

By: Abdul Razak Salim