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Ghana have named midfielder Thomas Partey in their provisional 28-man squad for next month's World Cup despite the player facing criminal charges in the United Kingdom, according to multiple reports. Partey, who now plays for Villarreal in Spain's La Liga, is due to stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, as reported by Africa News, Al Jazeera, RFI and others.

The allegations involve four different women and relate to incidents said to have taken place between 2020 and 2022, according to the same reports. Partey was initially charged last July, just days after his Arsenal contract expired, and joined Villarreal in August after being granted bail, as detailed by Al Jazeera.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the squad announcement has been consistent across the outlets reviewed. Africa News, Al Jazeera and RFI all reported Partey's inclusion with a neutral tone, emphasising that the selection was made despite the ongoing legal proceedings. Al Jazeera provided additional detail on the timeline of the charges and Partey's transfer to Villarreal. RFI, meanwhile, placed the announcement in the broader context of Ghana's World Cup preparations, including a warm-up game against Wales and the appointment of head coach Carlos Queiroz.

All sources confirmed that forward Mohammed Kudus would miss the World Cup due to injury. Tottenham Hotspur's Kudus suffered a quadriceps injury in January and was expected to return in March, but a setback in his recovery has kept him out of action since, according to Africa News and Al Jazeera.

Key claims

  • Partey's inclusion in the squad: Multiple sources confirmed that Partey is in Ghana's preliminary 28-man squad. RFI noted that Queiroz named a preliminary list of 28 players on Tuesday, with Partey among the picks.
  • Partey's legal situation: According to Al Jazeera and Africa News, Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault. The charges relate to allegations by four women and are due to go to trial next year. Partey has not been convicted and maintains his innocence.
  • Kudus's injury: Multiple sources reported that Kudus will miss the World Cup because of injury. RFI noted that the Tottenham forward suffered a quad injury in January and faced complications in his recovery.
  • Squad leadership: RFI reported that veteran striker Jordan Ayew will captain the national side at the World Cup. The 34-year-old will be featuring at his third World Cup.
  • Group L fixtures: All sources reported that Ghana are drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama. Ghana will start their campaign against Panama on 17 June in Toronto, face England in Boston on 23 June, and conclude against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June, according to RFI.
  • Warm-up match: RFI reported that Ghana will play a warm-up game against Wales in Cardiff next Tuesday. This detail was not mentioned in the other available reports.
  • Coaching change: RFI and Al Jazeera both reported that Carlos Queiroz took over as Ghana head coach last month, replacing Otto Addo. Queiroz will be guiding his third national team at a World Cup, having previously led Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
  • Attacking options: Multiple sources noted that Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City and Inaki Williams of Athletic Club are expected to take on attacking responsibility for Ghana in Kudus's absence.

Perspectives

  • Selection rationale: The Ghana Football Association's decision to include Partey reflects his importance to the national team, where he has earned 58 caps and played a full part in World Cup qualifying, as reported by Al Jazeera and Africa News. The reports do not indicate any discussion of the charges in the selection process.
  • Legal context: The reports make clear that Partey is facing serious allegations but has not been convicted. He is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and the charges are scheduled for trial next year. The coverage does not speculate on the potential outcome or the impact of the trial on his career.
  • Team dynamics: With Kudus sidelined, the focus will be on experienced players like Jordan Ayew and newcomers such as Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams, suggesting a blend of experience and youth in Ghana's attack. Abdul Rahman Baba's return to the squad after nearly three years adds defensive depth.
  • Historical context: RFI's series on African squads noted that Ghana enters the World Cup ranked 14th among African sides in the FIFA standings. The team is making its fifth World Cup appearance, with its best performance a quarter-final finish in 2010.