Former Black stars, winger Yaw Preko has backed former teammate, C.K Akunnor following calls for his sacking from the senior national team.

Akunnor has come under immense pressure from Ghanaians fans following a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on Monday.

However, Preko believes he needs time and support to turn things around.

“The sacking is too early, it’s just two games,” Preko, who featured at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, told Joy Sports.

“He has already qualified us to the Afcon and we just played two matches so why do we have to push the panic button? No, we have to take it easy.

“I know how everybody is feeling. If you sack him now and bring another coach and we don’t qualify, he will tell you his time was very short and that you need to give him time. If he doesn’t qualify, are you going to sack him too? Then we’ll end up just always sacking.

“Let’s give him the support and benefit of the doubt. We know he can do it, we have to believe in him. Sometimes when the bashing is too much, the person gets confused.”

The former Meadeama SC Gaffer added that, sacking CK Akonnor would take us back in terms of progress.

“I know how everybody is feeling. If you sack him now and bring another coach and we don’t qualify, he will tell you his time is very short and that you need to give him time. If he doesn’t qualify are you going to sack him too? Then we’ll end up just always sacking. Let’s give him the support and benefit of the doubt. We know he can do it, we have to believe in him. Sometimes when the bashing is too much, the person gets confused, ” he concluded.

In C.K Akunnor’s 10th game at the helm of affairs, the former Wolfsburg skipper saw his side bow to Bafana in a matchday two fixture, three days after labouring to beat Ethiopia 1-0 at home.

It was the sixth time his team had failed to win a match, three of his four victories as head coach coming against teams placed lower than 120 on the Fifa ranking.

Ghana has dropped to third place n the qualifying table in Group G, behind South Africa and second-placed Ethiopia.

The Black Stars return to action in October when they take on Zimbabwe in back-to-back games, while Group G leaders, South Africa play Ethiopia.