Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton, has provided insight into the omission of midfielder Thomas Partey from Ghana’s squad for the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Addressing the media after announcing the final 27-man squad, Hughton explained that Partey’s ongoing recovery from injury wouldn’t align with the AFCON schedule.
Partey has been sidelined for approximately two months, causing him to miss Ghana’s early matches in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Despite showing signs of nearing a return, the Arsenal midfielder hasn’t played since October, with the club prioritizing a cautious approach to his recovery.
Hughton, in consultation with the player and Arsenal’s medical team, opted to exclude Partey from the squad due to the significant nature of his injury. The coach emphasized the importance of supporting Partey during this recovery period, acknowledging it as the midfielder’s most substantial injury.
“Thomas Partey is one of our most important players. Without his injury, he certainly would be in the squad, we know the quality of player that he is. This is a player that suffered a substantial injury,” stated Hughton.
“I’ve spent a lot of this period of time with Thomas and also engaged the medical staff at Arsenal. They will treat this injury with caution, and so will the player. This is a big injury for him, the biggest injury he’s had.”
He further explained, “The most important thing for me as head coach is to give him the support he needs during this period of time. From all the information we’ve been given, the timelines of his recovery and the caution that will be taken, [his recovery] will not meet our timelines for the AFCON.”
The central midfield options for Ghana’s AFCON campaign include Salis Samed, Baba Iddrisu, Elisha Owusu, Majeed Ashimeru, and Richmond Lamptey, the captain of Asante Kotoko.
The AFCON kicks off on January 13, with the Black Stars starting their campaign against Cape Verde on January 14.
