Partey breaks silence on Canada visa ban and eyes reunion with Saka and Rice at World Cup

Thomas Partey has broken his silence over the visa denial that kept him out of Ghana’s World Cup opener, saying he is looking forward to a “really happy” reunion with former Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice when the two sides meet in Boston on Tuesday.

The midfielder missed Ghana’s 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after Canadian immigration officials refused him entry. Partey was denied a visa under Canadian law, which allows foreign nationals to be found inadmissible without a foreign conviction. He faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in London, relating to alleged incidents between 2020 and 2022, all of which he has denied. A trial is scheduled for next summer.

Partey’s legal team launched a last-minute challenge at the Federal Court in Ottawa, but judge Roger Lafreniere dismissed the appeal, writing that Partey had sought “extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief” that would have required Canada to set aside a “lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding and facilitate his entry for a specific event.” The U.S. government subsequently granted Partey a visa, clearing him to feature in the remainder of Ghana’s group-stage fixtures on American soil.

Speaking to media in footage posted on TV3 Ghana’s X account, Partey said: “I’m really happy to see them again. I hope they’re going to bring their best and try to give us the opportunity to play against the best and try to compete and enjoy the game.”

Asked about his individual ambitions for the match, Partey kept the focus collective. “It’s not about personal achievement. We are going to play a game of football. We are 11 players, we are a team. We have to play as a team. Individually if I can get my best game I will be happy, but at the end of the day it’s the whole team that needs to be at the top level to be able to achieve what you want to achieve.”

Ghana currently sit second in Group L heading into the England fixture and will close out the group stage against Croatia on Saturday.