Ghana head coach Milovan Rajevac is contemplating deploying fit-again Mubarak Wakaso in place of Arsenal star Thomas Partey in the offensive midfield spot for this week’s crucial 2022 World Cup qualifiers aganist Ethiopia and South Africa.
Arsenal player Partey is likely to be out of the final two matches that must be won during the qualifying matches after his English team Arsenal announced the latest groin injury of the player on Sunday.
The injury has kept Partey off Saturday’s Premier League clash against Watford. It is therefore extremely unlikely for the midfielder for him to fly into Ghana for his next game on Monday to join his Black Stars team-mates.
This has resulted in Ghana Coach Milovan Rajevac scratching his head in anticipation of the two crucial games that will decide if the Black Stars would qualify for the final round of the World Cup qualifiers or not.
Coach Milovan Rajevac needs his best players to play the remaining matches, and Partey is definitely one of them. A possible absence from the team could hurt the chances of the team to progress to the play-offs, and remaining on track to be able to participate in next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Partey was unable to play in the initial two qualifying matches due to injuries, as the Black Stars picked up just three points. Partey returned for the double-header game against Zimbabwe, where he scored 2 excellent goals to help the team earn six points.
In spite of the absence of Partey, Wakaso, who is back again after recovery from injury, is planned to be an alternative to the Arsenal player since Mubarak Wakaso was included in the squad of 28 players for the matches with Ethiopia as well as South Africa following his return to full fitness.
An injury kept the Chinese-based midfielder out of the double-header match against Zimbabwe last month.
He has recovered fully and is scheduled to take an important role in the must-win matches with Ethiopia in addition to South Africa this month.
Wakaso from the time of his Black Stars debut call-up in 2012 has played regularly with 65 appearances, as well as scoring twelve goals.
Ghana will play Ethiopia on the 11th of November on Thursday before taking on South Africa on Sunday, November 14, 2021, in the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars are second in Group G, with 9 points. This is just one point less than the leaders South Africa, and must win each of their games to qualify to play in the play-offs.
Source: Kingaziz.com