Black stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has insisted he is focused solely on football as uncertainty continues over Thomas Partey’s availability for the Black Stars’ World Cup opener against Panama.
Queiroz was asked about the ongoing visa dispute involving Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, which could potentially rule the player out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup match in Toronto on June 17.
Canadian immigration authorities have denied Partey a Temporary Resident Visa due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
The 33-year-old has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women. His trial is not scheduled until 2027, but Canadian border policy allows authorities to refuse entry to individuals facing serious pending charges.
The situation has created uncertainty within the Ghana camp ahead of their opening Group L fixture against Panama.
However, Queiroz made clear that his focus remains on preparing his squad and selecting his team, rather than off-field issues.
“We have our plan settled, we are in this moment counting with all the 26 players that we have in the squad and tomorrow we’ll make a decision, we’ll be the starting lineup, no particular comments about that.”
He added that he would not be drawn into wider discussions surrounding the situation, stressing that his priority was match preparation.
“I think it’s not necessary to make comments, the story is open, the freedom of speech is open.”
The Ghana coach further emphasised that his responsibility is to work with the players available to him, regardless of external circumstances.
“So to add more comments about issues that are nonsense is not part of my business, my business it is to play with the cards that I have in front of me.”
“We are waiting for a decision, when the decision comes we are ready to make the final approach to the game.”
The visa issue remains unresolved ahead of the Panama match, leaving Ghana’s technical team uncertain about whether one of their key midfielders will be available for the tournament opener.
Despite the distraction, Ghana continue their preparations for what is expected to be a tightly contested Group L campaign, which also includes England and Croatia.
