Kwadwo Twum Boafo, a sports enthusiast and leading member of the National Democratic Congress, has opined that the absence of skipper Thomas Partey was a contributing factor to the Black Stars’ underwhelming performance against Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority believes that Thomas Partey’s ability to keep the team ticking was missing in both games against Sudan.
Reviewing the game in a conversation with GhanaWeb, the lifelong Hearts of Oak supporter noted that Ghana’s inability to progress the ball swiftly in both games was due to Partey’s absence as the midfielder would have facilitated the quick progression of the ball with his passing and movements.
He avers that Partey would have given the country some presence and control in midfield, which would have been enough to get Ghana over the line.
While he is not critical of Elisha Owusu and Ibrahim Sulemana, Twum Boafo reckons the duo lack the skillset and personality of Thomas Partey to influence games to the same effect as the Arsenal man.
“I think Partey was a big miss. We passed the ball around quite well, but we lacked the control and mentality Partey brings, and I think that was a big reason we couldn’t beat the Sudanese,” he said.
Thomas Partey pulled out of the two matches due to illness in the aftermath of Arsenal’s game against Southampton.
In Partey’s absence, the Black Stars drew their home match against Sudan in Accra and lost the away fixture in Libya on October 15.
The defeat has placed Ghana on the brink of missing out on the AFCON for the first time in two decades.
Ghanaians react to Black Stars’ 2-0 defeat to Sudan
EK
