Ghana will have star midfielder Thomas Partey available for just one of the two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification matches later this month, footballghana.com can exclusively report.
Nicknamed the Black Stars, the Ghana national team is expected to face South Africa as well as Sao Tome & Principe in the qualifiers to next year’s AFCON this month.
With both games crucial for the West African country, coach CK Akonnor is hoping to have his best players available.
Unfortunately, he will have to do without midfielder Thomas Partey in the South Africa match.
According to the midfielder’s Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, players will not be allowed to travel to countries marked as Red Zone [due to Covid-19] by the UK government.
“The ones that are going to be in red zone countries, they won’t be able to play those fixtures.
“The rest we have to allow them to go if they are fit and we will stick to the protocols and all the guidance we have to try to allow our players to go when they are safe.
“Some might be able to play one game and not the next game so it’s a lot still to figure out.
“The doc is in constant communication with the Premier League and the federations but it’s not too simple,” Arteta explained in an interview ahead of the clash against Olympiacos.
While it is clear Partey will miss Ghana’s trip for the South Africa game, he should arrive in Ghana for the final qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe.