Otto Addo explains omission of Thomas Partey for crucial AFCON qualifiers

Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has shed light on his decision to exclude Thomas Partey from Ghana’s squad for the final two matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The squad announcement, made earlier today, featured several notable absences, including current team captain Partey.

Addressing the media, Addo shared insights into the decision, revealing that he had a candid discussion with the Arsenal midfielder.

“I had a confidential talk with Thomas. I am the coach who always wants to protect the players,” Addo stated.

He emphasized that while Partey was eager to rejoin the team, he had clearly communicated the reasons for his non-inclusion.

“The whole point for me was getting the understanding. I am not going to tell you the internal issues, but I made it quite clear to him; he wanted to come, but I made it quite clear why he’s not coming,” Addo explained.

He further added, “Like I said, it is confidential, so it’s difficult for me to mention all the things, so maybe we have to move on.”

In Partey’s absence, the experienced forward Jordan Ayew will assume the captaincy as the Black Stars prepare for their decisive matches.

Ghana, currently third in Group F with only two points from four games, faces a challenging path to AFCON 2025 qualification.

The team trails behind leaders Angola and second-placed Sudan, needing victories in their final matches and favorable outcomes elsewhere to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The Black Stars will take on Angola on November 15 in Luanda, followed by their final group match against Niger on November 18 in Accra.