Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has withdrawn from Ghana’s squad ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan due to medical issues.
The 30-year-old was initially named in Otto Addo’s 25-man squad and was expected to captain the Black Stars in the absence of Andre Ayew, a role he has embraced in recent international matches.
Partey’s withdrawal comes after Arsenal requested additional medical tests for the player, forcing him to stay in London. The club’s concerns about his fitness led to this precautionary move.
In addition to Partey, three other players—LA Galaxy’s Joseph Paintsil, Feyenoord’s Osman Ibrahim, and Samsunspor’s Kingsley Schindler—have also been ruled out due to injuries.
Paintsil is dealing with hamstring pain following LA Galaxy’s recent win, and club doctors have scheduled an MRI for October 7. Similarly, Ibrahim Osman picked up a hamstring injury over the weekend, and Schindler had a medical emergency that prevented him from traveling to Accra.
Coach Otto Addo has responded swiftly by calling up replacements, including Michael Baidoo of IF Elfsborg, Cercle Brugge’s Abu Francis, Jonas Adjetey, and Ibrahim Sadick, to bolster the squad ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
With Thomas Partey now ruled out, Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew is expected to take the mantle s captain in the crucial games
The first leg of the doubleheader against Sudan is set for Thursday, October 10, with the second leg scheduled for October 14. Both matches are critical for Ghana as they look to bounce back from their slow start in the qualifiers.
