Thomas Partey Named In Ghana’s Preliminary World Cup Squad Despite Rape Charges

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been included in Ghana’s preliminary squad for the World Cup despite facing multiple rape and sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom.

Naija News reports that Thomas Partey, 32, now with Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He is expected to stand trial next year.

Partey spent five years at Arsenal, making 167 appearances before leaving the Premier League club at the end of last season after his contract expired.

Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz included Partey in a 28-man squad for a pre-World Cup training camp and an international friendly against Wales in Cardiff on 2 June.

The squad will later be trimmed to 26 players ahead of the tournament.

Also included are Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City and Brandon Thomas-Asante from Coventry City.

Leicester City pair Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku also made the list.

One of the surprises in the squad is goalkeeper Joseph Anang, who plays for St Patrick’s Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

However, Mohammed Kudus was left out due to the quad injury that has sidelined the Tottenham Hotspur winger since January.

Ghana will open their World Cup Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June before facing England and Croatia in Foxborough and Philadelphia respectively.

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick’s Athletic), Solomon Agbasi (Accra Hearts of Oak SC), Paul Reverson (Ajax).

Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg), Kojo Oppong Peprah (Nice), Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre).

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City).

Forwards: Kamal Deen Sulemana (Atalanta), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City).