DANGER! Thomas Partey, three other key players withdraw from Black Stars’ squad for Sudan games

The Black Stars have been hit with a significant setback ahead of their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) doubleheader against Sudan, as key midfielder Thomas Partey has withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Partey is among four players ruled out of the upcoming matches. The others are Joseph Paintsil, Ibrahim Osman, and Kingsley Schindler, all of whom have been excused from the team due to various injury concerns.

According to an official statement from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Partey will miss the games “due to medical issues he is currently experiencing,” with Arsenal scheduling him for further tests in the coming days. Partey had been captaining the Black Stars in the absence of Andre Ayew since June.

Paintsil, meanwhile, suffered hamstring pain during LA Galaxy’s match on Saturday, October 5, and will undergo an MRI on October 7, ruling him out of the international window.

Osman and Schindler are also sidelined due to a muscle injury and a medical emergency, respectively. In response to these absences, head coach Otto Addo has called up Michael Baidoo, Abu Francis, Ibrahim Sadiq, and Jonas Adjei Adjetey to fill the void left by the injured players.

Ghana will face Sudan in the first leg of the doubleheader on Thursday, October 10, at the Accra Sports Stadium before traveling to Libya for the second encounter on October 15. Both matches are vital as the Black Stars aim to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON.