Ghana’s Black Stars coach, Otto Addo, has explained the decision to leave Arsenal midfielder and team captain Thomas Partey out of the squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
Despite Partey being fit, Addo revealed that the exclusion followed a private discussion between the two, aimed at “protecting” the player.
The coach emphasized that the decision was mutual and based on a shared understanding, not related to Partey’s fitness.
“I had a confidential talk with Thomas. I am the coach who always wants to protect the players,” Addo said, confirming that the nature of their conversation would remain private.
He added that while Partey expressed a desire to join the team, he respected the decision to exclude him for the player’s long-term benefit.
This move has led to a reshuffling of the leadership within the squad, with Jordan Ayew stepping up as the new captain for the crucial qualifiers.
Initially, Addo had planned to appoint Partey as the captain for the upcoming matches.
However, with his absence, the coach has turned to younger players such as Mohammed Kudus to play a more significant leadership role.
Addo noted that Kudus, though talented, would need time to adjust to the added responsibility.
The 25-man squad announced on Thursday includes prominent names such as Ayew, Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, and Fatawu Issahaku, all of whom will play key roles in the qualifiers.
Ghana’s squad is also affected by injuries, with defender Mohammed Salisu ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the October double-header against Sudan.
However, Nathaniel Adjei returns to the squad after recovering from his own injury, alongside Ibrahim Osman and Joseph Paintsil, both of whom missed the previous matches.
The Black Stars face Angola on November 15, 2024, in Luanda, and Niger on November 18, 2024, at the Accra Stadium. To secure a spot in the AFCON tournament, Ghana must win both games and hope for Sudan to slip up.
