EXCLUSIVE Kwesi Appiah helped AFC Wimbledon beat West Ham in the FA Cup six years ago and now wants to help Ebbsfleet United shock League Two Grimsby Town
Kwesi Appiah has just about seen it all. Now he wants to replicate his FA Cup euphoria with his boyhood club.
Appiah twice went from non-league to the EFL, played in India and Norway, and started in the AFCON final just over a decade ago. The FA Cup has a special place in Appiah’s heart too, having scored as AFC Wimbledon memorably beat West Ham 4-2 in 2019.
Now the Ebbsfleet United forward, 35, wants to upset Grimsby in the first round. Ghana international Appiah, who this summer returned to the club where his professional career began, said: “That [win over West Ham] was quite a euphoric moment. I’m a London boy, that was a London derby, and it was nice to be involved in such a historic game for Wimbledon.
“When you’re involved in key things like that, it’s amazing and it lives with you as you grow and move on with your life. We are really enthusiastic and up for this next round. Those days ain’t too far away with regards to the rounds where those bigger clubs come in.
READ MORE: Gang of thugs storm pitch and ‘break footballer’s skull’ as match abandonedREAD MORE: Diego Maradona sex confessions from public bonking to ‘shaking furniture’ with Wanda Nara
“The next scalp we’ve got to take is Grimsby, and that’s what we’ll turn our attention to now. We’ve won three Cup games, one against an opposition who’s in a higher league than us, and that was probably one of our most dominant performances of the season. Maybe it suits us and we’re able to get up for those really big games.
“God willing when we play against Grimsby, we can be in that same motion and with that same energy and commitment to get a great result for the club.”
It’s not been an easy time for the Fleet. They won just three National League games last season and returned to the National League South after two seasons in non-league’s top tier.
Former Crystal Palace forward Appiah returned to Stonebridge Road in the summer, scoring after just four minutes in the opening game of the season at Dagenham. It’s a long way from the 2015 African Cup of Nations where Appiah played 99 minutes in the final as Ghana were eventually beaten on penalties by Ivory Coast.
“It’s just one of those periods of time where when you’re in it, you don’t really take it in as much as when you look back,” Appiah admitted. “My family and I recently spent some time on YouTube looking at some of the AFCON games, and I got taken back to a place that I didn’t realise I was even at at that time. I had goosebumps again.
“I had all the chills and all the positive feelings and the energy and excitement that I had when I was probably there, but even more so now because I’m sharing it with my family. To represent Ghana on that level and at that stage and to be a main part of the team, especially in the final stages of the tournament, is something that will live in my legacy forever.”
Appiah will be hoping there’s more to add to that legacy come Saturday evening.