Partey out as Ghana names AFCON squad

• Partey has been out with injury since October
• Ghana will be missing four more players with injury
• Ghana start camp on January 2

Thomas Partey has not been included in Ghana’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by coach Chris Hughton. The Arsenal midfielder, as expected has not passed fitness tests to enable him play at the AFCON.

Partey is yet to feature for Arsenal in the past two months due to injury and has been reported to have just recently joined first team training.

However, due to the long lay-off, he is not deemed fit enough to take part in what is expected to be an intensive AFCON in Ivory Coast.

Speaking after naming his squad, coach Hughton said Partey will be a big miss for the Black Stars in Ivory Coast.

“Thomas Partey is one of our most important players. Without his injury, he certainly would be in the squad; we know the quality of the player he is. This is a player that suffered a substantial injury,” stated Hughton.

“I’ve spent a lot of this period of time with Thomas and also engaged the medical staff at Arsenal. They will treat this injury with caution, and so will the player. This is a big injury for him, the biggest injury he’s had.”

Partey an important player

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey

“The most important thing for me as head coach is to give him the support he needs during this period of time. From all the information we’ve been given, the timelines of his recovery and the caution that will be taken, [his recovery] will not meet our timelines for the AFCON.”

Also missing out on the list due to injury is Brighton’s Tareeq Lamptey. Kamaldeen Sulemana, Daniel Kofi-Kyereh and Joseph Aidoo are also other players exempted due to injury.

Meanwhile, Baba Rahman and Fatawu Issahaku have both asked to opt out of the tournament.

In a statement shared on X (Formerly Twitter), Rahman explained his reasons for opting out of ther squad that travels to Ivory Coast, despite having earlier been named in the provisional squad.

“I just wanted to say that the decision to opt out of the AFCON was solely based on footballing reasons and nothing else. Playing for my country will always be the highest point of my career, and every time I have been lucky to wear the shirt I have given my all,” Rahman explained.

“The last few years I have had to battle injuries and recovery times, and I feel that it’s best in the interest of my career and that of the team to only play when I don’t have to think about recovery or pain. That way I can always give my best to the team,” he added.

Kudus included 

Ghana coach Chris Hughton

Among the notable inclusions are West Ham’s in-form forward, Mohammed Kudus, who has been a goal-scoring sensation with 10 goals in all competitions. Athletic Bilbao’s striker, Inaki Williams, adds firepower to the squad with his impressive record of eight goals.

Meanwhile, the tactician has named three home based players in his final 27-man squad. They include Asante Kotoko midfielder Richmond Lamptey and the duo of Fatawu Hamidu and Jonathan Sowah of Medeama SC.

The 27-man squad will assemble for a training camp in Kumasi from January 2. The Black Stars, four-time African champions, are in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.

Ghana AFCON squad

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati Zigi, Richard Ofori, Jojo Wollacott

Defenders: Alidu Seidu, Dennis Odoi, Kingsley Schindler, Gideon Mensah, Daniel Amartey, Nich Opoku, Alexander Djiku, Mohammed Salisu

Midfielders: Samed Salis, Baba Iddrisu, Majeed Ashimeru, Elisha Owusu, Richmond Lamptey, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew, Ransford Konigsdorffer, Osman Bukari, Joseph Paintsil, Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah

Strikers: Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jonathan Sowah