2021 Afcon Qualifiers: Partey, Wakaso, 3 Others Withdraw From Sudan Games

Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey, heads a list of key Black Stars players who are set to miss Ghana’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sudan because of various reasons.

Ghana will face Sudan on Thursday, November 12, 2020, in the first leg of the qualifiers at the Cape Coast Stadium before they travel to Khartoum for the return leg on November 17.

But CK Akonnor will have to play the two games without several of his key players, including China-based Mubarak Wakaso, Spain-based Baba Iddrisu, and USA-based Harrison Afful who have all withdrawn from the squad.

Partey sustained a muscle injury in Arsenal’s defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday and will undergo a scan on Tuesday to assess the extent of the injury. This has effectively ruled him out of the Ghana games.

Wakaso is also set to miss the games after failing to secure flights to Ghana from China, with the coronavirus pandemic still grounding major airlines flying in and out of the Asian country.

The only way the 30-year-old would be able to make the trip is reportedly through a chartered flight, a venture deemed too expensive for both club and country.

Iddrisu missed Real Mallorca’s 3-0 win over Ponferradina in the Spanish Segunda Division on Sunday night through injury and will not travel to Ghana for the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Harrison Afful’s club, Columbus Crew, have refused to release the Ghanaian international for the games, deeming it too risky to travel during a pandemic.

More than 6 Ghanaian players and officials tested positive for COVID-19 after Ghana’s last international games against Mali and Qatar and Crew are unwilling to risk infection for one of their key players, hence their decision.

Teenager, Jamie Leweling, who plays for German Bundesliga B side Greuther Furth, has already pulled out of the squad, citing personal reasons.

Akonnor faces a race against time to call up replacements for his stars for the crucial games against Sudan.

Afriyie Acquah, Kotoko’s Christopher Nettey, Bechem United’s Prince Adu Kwabena and Mexico-based Clifford Aboagye are among players being considered for late call ups, Citi Sports understands.