Black Stars coach Otto Addo has provided clarity on why Thomas Partey was excluded from the squad for Ghana's upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
Partey, the Arsenal midfielder, had been expected to play a crucial role in the team's qualification campaign, but Addo revealed that after a private conversation with the player, he made the decision to leave him out of the 25-man squad. While Addo refrained from revealing the specifics of the discussion, he emphasized that his primary goal was to protect the player’s interests, ensuring that the decision was in both Partey’s and the team's best interest.
In addition to Partey's exclusion, there had been plans to appoint him as the new captain of the Black Stars. Addo stated that the intention was for Partey to take on a leadership role, guiding the team through the final stages of the qualifiers. However, with the midfielder unavailable, Addo turned his focus to other players within the squad. After speaking with Partey, Addo also had discussions with Mohammed Kudus, another potential candidate for the captaincy. Although Kudus is seen as a future leader, Addo believes that the young midfielder still needs time to mature into the responsibility of leading the national team. As a result, Jordan Ayew has been appointed as the new captain for the upcoming matches.
Ghana's AFCON qualification hopes are on the line as they sit third in Group F, trailing Angola and Sudan. The Black Stars will face Angola on November 15 at the Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, followed by a home fixture against Niger on November 18 at the Accra Sports Stadium. Despite the challenges, Addo is hopeful that the leadership transition will provide the team with the stability and focus they need to secure crucial points.
With Ayew now wearing the armband, the team will look to rally together and perform well in these vital qualifiers, as they aim to book their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
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