Partey, Paintsil, and Two Others Ruled Out of Ghana vs. Sudan Matches

The Black Stars have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with key midfielder Thomas Partey and three other players sidelined for the crucial games against Sudan.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed that Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is unavailable due to medical concerns and will undergo further tests in the coming days. Partey, who captained the Black Stars in previous qualifiers against Angola and Niger, will miss the upcoming matches, leaving a significant void in the squad.

Additionally, Joseph Paintsil, Osman Ibrahim, and Kingsley Schindler have been ruled out due to injuries. Paintsil sustained a hamstring issue during his last club game on October 5, and club doctors have scheduled an MRI. Osman Ibrahim suffered calf pain and had to be substituted during his recent match, while Kingsley Schindler is dealing with a medical emergency and is also unavailable.

To fill the gaps, the GFA has called up Michael Baidoo, Abu Francis, Jonas Adjetey, and Ibrahim Sadick to reinforce the squad ahead of the qualifiers.

The Black Stars held their first training session on Monday at the Accra Sports Stadium with 11 players in attendance. The full squad is expected to assemble by Monday evening as preparations continue on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ghana will face Sudan in the first leg of the AFCON qualifiers on Thursday, October 10, at the Accra Sports Stadium. The second leg is scheduled for October 14 at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Libya. With a previous 1-0 loss to Angola and a 1-1 draw with Niger, coach Otto Addo and his team will be aiming for a full six points in these pivotal matches.