Ghana snub Arsenal's Thomas Partey for key AFCON qualifiers
Ghana has excluded Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey (31) from their squad for crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with the first matchday five fixtures scheduled for Wednesday.
Coach Otto Addo, facing scrutiny, did not reveal the reasons behind the midfielder's omission, despite Partey having netted 13 goals in 49 international appearances.
"My reasons are confidential. I hope he will rejoin us for the next international window in March (World Cup qualifying)," he stated to the media.
In another notable change involving Premier League players, Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew has taken over the captaincy from West Ham United midfielder Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus captained the Black Stars in their recent home and away matches against Sudan, where they managed to secure only one point, placing Ghana at risk of missing the finals for the first time since 2004.
As the third most successful nation in AFCON history with four titles, Ghana currently sits third in Group F, having accumulated just two points from four matches.
To maintain any chance of qualifying for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, Ghana must secure victories against leaders Angola on Friday and at home against Niger three days later.
Meanwhile, Sudan requires only one point from their upcoming matches against Niger and Angola to clinch qualification, despite playing their home matches outside a country embroiled in civil conflict.
Additionally, AFP Sport outlines five other matchday five encounters taking place between Wednesday and Saturday, with the final round of qualifiers set for the following three days.
Benin vs Nigeria
Victor Osimhen, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, makes his return from injury for Nigeria's Group D matches against Benin and Rwanda, with the team requiring just one point to secure qualification.
Caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has a wealth of attacking options, including Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Boniface. However, Nigeria must remain cautious of Benin, having suffered a 2-1 defeat to a team managed by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr in a World Cup qualifier last year.
Botswana vs Mauritania
After facing travel challenges that resulted in a heavy 4-0 loss to Egypt, Botswana seemed to be out of contention for a finals spot, leaving them without points and demoralized after two matches.
Nevertheless, unexpected victories at home and away against Cape Verde have positioned them second in Group C, trailing only the already-qualified Egypt. A home win against Mauritania will secure their place in Morocco.
Following the narrow victories over Cape Verde, French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa departed Botswana to take up a role with Al Ahly Tripoli, leading to South African Morena Ramoreboli being appointed as the interim coach.
Gambia vs Comoros
Comoros achieved a significant upset last month by defeating Tunisia with a goal from Rafiki Said, breaking the Carthage Eagles' streak of 16 consecutive home victories in AFCON qualifiers.
Under the guidance of Italian coach Stefano Cusin, Comoros, primarily composed of players from lower French leagues, can secure qualification from Group A with a win against Gambia. The match will take place in Berkane, Morocco, due to Gambia's lack of an international-standard stadium.
Uganda vs South Africa
In a matchup between likely Group K qualifiers, Belgian coaches Paul Put (Uganda) and Hugo Broos (South Africa) will face off. Both teams will guarantee their qualification if Congo Brazzaville fails to secure a victory against the improving South Sudan 24 hours prior.
Uganda's home-based forward Denis Omedi has been a standout performer, while South Africa will be without injured Burnley forward Lyle Foster, and Al Ahly winger Percy Tau has been omitted from the squad.
Zimbabwe vs. Kenya
This encounter between nations that were excluded from the previous AFCON due to governmental interference presents Zimbabwe with an opportunity to secure qualification from Group J with one match remaining.
A single point will be adequate for the Zimbabwean squad, managed by German coach Michael Nees, who is compelled to compete in Polokwane, South Africa, due to the absence of a suitable venue for AFCON matches.
On the other hand, Kenya must achieve a victory to maintain their chances of joining the already-qualified Cameroon. However, Turkish coach Engin Firat may be troubled by the team's inability to score in two out of their four qualifying matches.
SportsLigue