Thomas Partey, Tariqe Fosu To Rejoin Black Stars After Exclusion From Morocco Trip
Black Stars coach Charles Akonnor will have his first deputy captain Thomas Partey back in the team on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s international friendly against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Cape Coast.
The Arsenal midfielder was not part of the team that left Accra on Sunday evening for the Tunisian city of Rabat for a friendly match with the Atlas Lions.
Tuesday’s match comes off at the FAR Sportive stadium in Rabat (Kick-off: 20:00GMT).
Ghana defeated Morocco 2-0 in Accra during the group stage of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, the last time the two sides clashed.
According to a Ghana Football Association (GFA) statement on Monday, Partey was excused from Tuesday’s clash with Morocco to enable the midfielder to sort out some personal issues, following an hour-long discussion with Coach Akonnor at the team’s camp.
“As the First Deputy Captain of the Black Stars, Thomas Partey later joined his colleagues in training to show solidarity and support before leaving for Accra. The Arsenal midfielder will therefore team up with the rest of the squad on Thursday when the team returns from Morocco,” the statement said.
Tariqe Fosu last played for Ghana in a friendly against Qatar in October last year
Also expected to join the national team on Thursday is Tariqe Fosu who was not part of the team that travelled to Morocco. He will be available for selection against Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.
The Brentford winger, according to the FA statement, reported late to camp in Cape Coast last Friday evening and was omitted from the team by Coach Akonnor who told the player that his late arrival had cost him an opportunity to earn his fifth international appearance against the Atlas Lions.
The FA revealed that players such as Nordsjælland forward Kamaldeen Sulemana, Kamal Sowah of Leicester City and Joseph Paintsil of Turkish side Ankaragücü turned down the invitation to join the national team in camp, indicating they were not ready for the two international friendly matches.
However, injury kept South Africa-based goalkeeper Richard Ofori from the team, while China-based midfielder Mubarak Wakaso opted out of the squad due to COVID-19 complications which would require him to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return to his base from Accra.
Another China-based player, Frank Acheampong, who plays for Shenzhen FC is bereaved and was unable to join the team in camp.