Stephen Appiah makes Bologna team

Published on: 18 April 2010

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has been included in the team of a top-flight European side for a competitive match the first time since in two years.

The Black Stars leader was an unused substitute for Italian side Bologna as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Udinese in the Serie A game on Sunday.

This means the influential enforcer has regained his full fitness after a botched knee surgery and dispute with his former club Fenerbahce ruled him out action.

This is also massive boost for the midfielder and his country ahead of the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa which is just some few weeks away.

A couple of matches for Bologna before the season ends will all but end the criticism over his call-up to the national team.

The fact also that he was been considered for the bench for Bologna means he could have effectively contributed during the game if he had been asked to.

Antonio Di Natale popped up with a stoppage-time leveller to salvage a point for Udinese and break the hearts of battling Bologna in a 1-1 draw.

The visitors appeared poised to snap their miserable five-game losing streak with a win but Di Natale's late show ensured they had to settle for a point which does little to ease their Serie A relegation worries.

Bologna were gifted the perfect start when Christian Zapata put through his own net inside five minutes, but Franco Colomba's side just failed to get the job done despite a heroic rearguard display in the second half.

The former Juventus, Fenerbahce and Parma star was signed as a free agent by Bologna late last year.

The Ghanaian was previously released by the Turkish side in June 2008, but continued to feature for the Ghana national team, despite the recurrence of a long-term knee injury.

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