World Cup playoff: Partey arrives for Eagles but Ayew's presence generates controversy
Black Stars coach Otto Addo is expected to name his squad today as the team begin preparations ahead of the game on Friday
In form Arsenal midfielder and captain of Ghana national football Thomas Partey has arrived Accra for the must-win Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Also rumoured to be in Accra is Crystal Palace Jordan Ayew who is reported to have tested positive to COVID-19 a few days ago.
Partey arrived a day after starring in Arsenal's victory over Aston Villa in the English Premier League.
The hard-tackling midfielder, who was Arsenal's Man of the Match on Saturday, will captain the Black Stars in the two-legged game against the Super Eagles.
Captain Andre Ayew misses the match through suspension and will be out of the team leaving Partey with the task of leading the team.
The 28 years old will be at the Accra Sports stadium on Monday afternoon as training begins for the blockbuster encounter.
But news that Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew will join the Black Stars team is generating controversy.
According to reports, the former Aston Villa forward had tested positive for COVID-19 making him a huge doubt for Ghana’s World Cup playoff against Nigeria.
The 31-year-old missed Crystal Palace's game against Everton on Sunday in the Emirates FA Cup which they won 4-0.
Ayew was named in the team squad but was later dropped from the matchday squad.
But the media in Ghana are reporting that Jordan Ayew will be in Ghana for the game after sources disclosed that he will be arriving in the Black Stars camp.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo is expected to name his squad today as the team begin preparations ahead of the game on Friday.
The Dortmund assistant coach will be expecting a full house on Monday before the team jets off to Kumasi on Tuesday but there are doubts if Jordan Ayew who is sick will be among the final list.
Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak defender Dennis Korsah has reportedly been included in the Black Stars squad.
The left-back has been impressive since joining the Phobians earning him a maiden Ghana call up ahead of the crucial encounter on Friday.
Dennis Korsah is expected to replace Baba Abdul Rahman who is yet to pass a late fitness test, having been out with an injury for weeks.
Bordeaux defender Gideon Mensah is also in the squad to play Nigeria.
Otto Addo and his assistants Mas Ud Didi Dramani and George Boateng will be speaking on their team to face Nigeria, the plan for the game and how to approach the match on Friday.
An itinerary has been drawn, and players are expected to be in Ghana by the end of Monday. The team will travel to Kumasi on Tuesday to begin training before Friday's encounter.
The Black Stars will be hoping to make a return to the competition after missing the World Cup in Russia four years ago.
The Black Stars will be hoping to make a return to the competition after missing the World Cup in Russia four years ago.
The winner of the two-legged game will grab one of the five tickets allotted Africa for the tournament in Qatar later this year. Ghana and Nigeria will battle it out for one of the five tickets to represent Africa at the Qatar World Cup in November.
