Black Stars’ deputy captain, Thomas Partey, is now facing the likelihood of missing Ghana’s first two games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this month.
The 30-year-old midfielder is currently recovering from a muscle injury. Partey sustained the injury after featuring for the Black Stars in friendly matches against Mexico and the USA in October. He later suffered the injury while training with his Arsenal teammates.
Partey did not participate in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The club subsequently confirmed that he had a muscle injury that required further assessment.
Mikel Arteta, the head coach of Arsenal, revealed that the Ghana international will be sidelined for several weeks and the exact return date is uncertain. Arteta expressed concern about Partey’s injury record and the impact it has had on the team in previous seasons. He also conveyed his support for Partey’s recovery.
Partey is expected to be unavailable until December, which means he will likely miss Ghana’s World Cup qualifiers. In the first Group I matches, Ghana is scheduled to face Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday, November 17, and then travel to Comoros to play on Tuesday, November 21.
The Black Stars are aiming to secure victories in these games as they aim to qualify for their fifth FIFA World Cup appearance before participating in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Despite the setback, Thomas Partey is expected to recover in time for the AFCON scheduled from January 13 to February 11.
