Arsenal’s Thomas Partey not in Ghana 2023 AFCON squad

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: Thomas Partey of Arsenal controls the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on October 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
By Ali Rampling
Jan 1, 2024

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has not been included in the Ghana squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 30-year-old has not featured for Arsenal since October due to a hamstring problem and has been restricted to five appearances in all competitions this season after sustaining a groin injury at the beginning of the campaign.

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Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey also misses out on a place in Chris Hughton’s squad, having been sidelined since November, but West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus has been included.

Hughton explained Partey would have been selected if fit and labelled the hamstring problem “the biggest injury that he’s had”.

“Thomas Partey for sure, and I say this not in a detrimental way to the squad that we have, but he is one of our most important players,” said Hughton. “Withstanding his injury, he certainly would be in the squad. We know the quality of player that he is.

“This is a player that has a substantial injury. I’ve spent a lot over this period of time with Thomas and also engaging with the medical staff at Arsenal Football Club. They will treat this injury with caution, and so will the player. This is a big injury for him and the biggest injury that he’s had.

“The most important thing for me as head coach and our association is to give him the support that he needs through this period of time. From all the information that we’ve been given, the timelines of his recovery and the caution that will be taken, will not meet our timelines for the AFCON.”

AFCON 2023 — pushed back six months to avoid the rainy season — takes place between January 13 and February 11 in the Ivory Coast, and up to four Premier League gameweeks will be impacted by the tournament.

Lamptey has made eight appearances for Brighton this term and has not played since being forced off against Nottingham Forest in November, suffering an injury that head coach Roberto De Zerbi said would keep him out for a “long time”.

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Kudus has impressed for West Ham following his summer move from Ajax, providing six goals and one assist in 16 Premier League appearances. He could will miss West Ham’s FA Cup third round tie against Bristol City and Premier League fixture against Sheffield United, and could also be absent for league matches against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Arsenal depending on how far Ghana go in the tournament.

Ghana, four-time AFCON champions, were eliminated from the group stages of the 2021 competition.

Senegal are the defending champions after their penalty shootout victory over record seven-time winners Egypt in the final of the 2021 tournament.

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(Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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Ali Rampling

Ali Rampling is a News Editor at The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, she worked as the Women's Football Editor at 90min. Ali attended Loughborough University, and originates from Ipswich. Follow Ali on Twitter @AliRampling