Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has found himself axed from the latest Ghana squad after a meeting with manager Otto Addo. The player, who was absent from the previous international break due to illness, wanted to feature in the upcoming fixtures but was surprisingly left out of the squad. Addo emphasized that Partey, who serves as Ghana’s vice-captain, will have the opportunity to return in March but needs to address certain issues that were discussed during the confidential meeting.
Addo mentioned to reporters, “I had a confidential talk with Thomas. 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.”
Jordan Ayew has been appointed as Ghana’s captain for the upcoming matches against Angola and Niger. The team is currently struggling in their Africa Cup of Nations qualification group, with hopes of making it to the tournament in jeopardy. Ghana’s absence from the competition for the first time since 2004 would be a significant setback for the four-time champions.
Despite being dropped from the national team, Partey has been a consistent presence for Arsenal this season, featuring in various positions including right back. He has played 15 games across all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s side in the current campaign. The door remains open for Partey to make a return to the Ghana squad in the future, with Addo expressing hope that the midfielder will address the issues discussed and rejoin the team in March.