Black Stars midfielder Kwasi Sibo has pledged that Ghana will fight for victory in their opening FIFA World Cup match against Panama in honour of teammate Thomas Partey.
Partey will miss Ghana’s Group L opener after reportedly losing an appeal following the denial of his entry visa into Canada, preventing him from travelling with the team to Toronto.
Sibo, who was expected to partner the former Arsenal midfielder in the heart of Ghana’s midfield, says the squad remains united behind Partey and is determined to make him proud.
“Our brother has been through a lot and we are always with him. He is one of the biggest stars in our team but for that we have to make sure we win the game for him as a family and make him happy because he has been with us from the first day we started this campaign. It hurts that we are playing our first game, and he’s not with us. We are giving him our word,” he said after training on Wednesday in Toronto.
The Black Stars will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama before returning to the United States for their second Group L match against England in Boston on June 23.
Ghana will conclude their group-stage fixtures with a clash against Croatia in Philadelphia as they seek a place in the knockout rounds.
After disappointing exits in recent major tournaments, the Black Stars will be eager to make a strong impression and advance beyond the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.












