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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Thomas Partey Set to Miss Ghana Squad for Chad and Mali Clashes Amid Rape Allegations

Thomas Partey Likely to Miss Ghana Squad for World Cup Qualifiers Amid Rape Charges

By Emmanuel Austin Baah
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Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey could be omitted from the Black Stars squad for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali, as he faces ongoing legal proceedings over rape allegations.

The 32-year-old has been charged with five counts of rape involving two women, along with an additional charge of sexual assault against a third woman. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2021 and 2022, during his time at Premier League side Arsenal.

Partey was formally charged just four days after leaving Arsenal, where his contract expired at the end of June. He appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 5 August, and was granted conditional bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for 2 September at the Old Bailey.

Despite the controversy, the former Atlético Madrid midfielder has secured a move to Spanish La Liga side Villarreal. However, with head coach Otto Addo set to name his squad for Matchday 7 and 8 of the qualifiers, Partey’s inclusion remains highly uncertain.

Ghana will travel to face Chad at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno on 4 September before hosting Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on 8 September. The Black Stars currently top Group I after six matches and will be aiming to maintain their momentum as they push towards a fifth World Cup appearance.

Author

  • My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

    I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

    Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

    Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

    I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

    For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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Emmanuel Austin Baah 1201 posts 1 comments

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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