Otto Addo, the manager of Ghana, made the audacious decision to remove the Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, from the Ghanaian national team, citing disciplinary concerns. The exclusion, which was first explained as the result of “internal matters,” has now been explained as a calculated move to strengthen team discipline and demonstrate the manager’s dedication to maintaining standards within the group.
Thomas Partey, 31, was scheduled to captain Ghana in their forthcoming qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Niger and Angola. According to team insiders, coach Addo’s decision to leave him out stems from an earlier incident last month when Partey abruptly withdrew from two important AFCON qualifiers against Sudan, which ended in a 2-0 loss and a 0-0 tie.
Partey’s absence raises concerns about his dedication to Ghana
According to reports, the Ghanaian administration was displeased with Thomas Partey’s decision to stay in London due to illness, since they had expected him to come for more medical assessments. But to Coach Addo’s dismay, Partey was declared healthy enough to participate in Arsenal’s next Premier League game against Bournemouth, casting doubt on his dedication to playing for his country.
Addo stated; “I always like to protect my players, and I hope for your understanding. The team is like family, and I won’t come out with internal issues, but I made it clear why he is not here”
Addo has underlined that Partey’s return is still possible, but the timing of this decision is critical given Ghana’s AFCON qualification. Ghana could miss the tournament for the first time since 2004 as they are currently in third place in their qualification group, five points behind Sudan. Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace has taken over as captain in Partey’s absence, signalling a dramatic change of direction for a team looking to regain its former supremacy.