Partey Included In Ghana’s Preliminary World Cup Squad

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been named in Ghana’s preliminary squad for the upcoming World Cup, despite facing serious criminal charges.

The 32-year-old, who now plays for Villarreal in Spain, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The allegations involve four different women and are said to have occurred between 2020 and 2022. Partey is scheduled to stand trial next year.

Partey spent five seasons at Arsenal, making 167 appearances across all competitions before leaving the club last summer when his contract expired.

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has selected Partey in a 28-man group for a pre-tournament training camp and a friendly against Wales in Cardiff on 2 June. The squad must be reduced to 26 players before the World Cup begins.

Other notable call-ups include Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu. League of Ireland goalkeeper Joseph Anang, who plays for St Patrick’s Athletic, is one of five shot-stoppers in the squad.

However, Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus misses out due to a quad injury that has sidelined him since January.

Ghana will open their World Cup Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June, followed by matches against England and Croatia in Foxborough and Philadelphia respectively.

Ghana Preliminary World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic), Solomon Agbasi (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Paul Reverson (Ajax)

Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg), Kojo Oppong Peprah (Nice), Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre)

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City)

Forwards: Kamal Deen Sulemana (Atalanta), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)