Thomas Partey named in Ghana's World Cup squad as Queiroz defends decision

Thomas Partey named in Ghana's World Cup squad as Queiroz defends decision

Carlos Queiroz has defended his decision to include Thomas Partey in his Ghana ahead of the World Cup.

Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz has named his preliminary 28-man squad for a pre-World Cup training camp and friendly against Wales on the 2nd June, as his side prepares for this summer’s competition.

Ghana clash with Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday in a friendly before flying to North America for their fifth World Cup where they will enter Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.

Veteran Leicester City attacker Jordan Ayew will captain the Black Stars alongside the likes of Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo and Coventry striker Brandon Thomas-Asante in what is a star-studded line up.

However, Partey’s name being included in the squad has caused controversy after the Villarreal playmaker pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022 earlier this season.

Partey, 32, left Arsenal upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, 2025, after nearly five years after the charges came to light as the club decided to let him leave.

The trial will take place at Southwark Crown Court, London and was originally scheduled for November, but may now be delayed until early 2027.

Standing by the decision, Queiroz explained why Partey makes it into the squad.

“It’s a simple and basic answer. As far as I know, in England, in Portugal, whatever, we are living in this world, until the court makes a decision, that the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases.

“But today and this is not only about Thomas, very unfortunately the way the social media and the media sometimes act with full and total impunity, we are condemned even before we have the opportunity to defend. So let the events run this normal course. Let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean, we’re going to find the truth.”

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick's Athletic).

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), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos).

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

Forwards: Kamaldeen 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).