Partey not selected for Ghana's crunch AFCON qualifiers

Ghana head coach Otto Addo has omitted Thomas Partey from his latest squad for their final two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month following “confidential” talks.

The 31-year-old defensive midfielder has made a full recovery from the injury problems that plagued him last season and featured in all 10 of Arsenal’s games in the Premier League this term.

Partey skippered the Black Stars in their opening two Group F qualifiers against Angola and Niger, but missed the double-header with Sudan last month.

He will also be absent for the return fixtures against the Black Sable Antelopes and the Menas as Addo’s side go in search of their first win in the group to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

Addo didn’t reveal the reason for Partey’s omission, but insisted the door was always open for him to return to the fold in the future.

“I had a confidential talk with Thomas,” he said. “I am a coach who always likes to protect the players, so I hope for your understanding.

“For me, the team is like family, I am not coming out with internal issues – but I made it quite clear to him. He wanted to come, he wanted to come, but I made it quite clear why he is not coming.

“Like I said, it’s confidential. It is difficult for me to mention all the things. It’s like that. We have to move on. Now, as you know, Thomas is not coming and it’s not a permanent thing, so we are always open for him to return.

“I hope that the things we talked that he will do better in that and that he will join the team maybe in the next window in March. I think he had a good perspective. We had a good talk and we are on good terms.”