A late legal ruling has ruled Thomas Partey out of Ghana’s World Cup opener, after a Canadian court upheld a decision denying him entry into the country.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, just a day before Ghana’s first Group L match against Panama.
An appeal had been lodged by Partey’s legal team in an effort to overturn the visa refusal. That bid was rejected.
The decision leaves Ghana without one of their most experienced midfielders at the start of their campaign.
Legal Case Behind Visa Refusal
Partey’s inability to travel has been linked to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
He has been charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault relating to alleged incidents between 2020 and 2022.
He has denied all charges.
A trial is expected to take place later this year.
The court in Canada was asked to reconsider his entry status, but the appeal was dismissed.
Government Reaction and Team Response
The Government of Ghana had backed Partey’s appeal, describing the refusal as “high-handed and extremely unfair,” according to officials quoted in earlier statements.
Inside the camp, however, the impact was expected to be limited.
Sources close to the team suggested preparations had already accounted for the possibility of his absence.
“The coach already had his match-day strategy worked out,” one source said. “Win or lose, it would not have changed much for this game.”
Queiroz Stays Focused
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz adopted a pragmatic tone when asked about the situation.
“My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me,” he told reporters. “We are waiting for a decision. When the decision comes, we are ready.”
He added that the squad’s structure had already been settled.
“We have a plan, and it includes all 26 players.”
Group Stage Still in Play
Despite the setback, Ghana are expected to lean on squad depth as they face a demanding group stage.
Matches against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia follow their opener against Panama.
Qualification remains within reach.
Should Ghana progress, they could yet return to Canada for the knockout rounds.
For now, though, attention has been forced away from midfield plans and back to a sudden absence that reshapes the start of their tournament.
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