Thomas Partey Dismisses Black Stars Captaincy Controversy
Ghana international Thomas Partey has dismissed suggestions of discontent within the Black Stars over the team’s captaincy, insisting there is no leadership crisis in the national setup.
The Arsenal midfielder addressed the issue for the first time in a recent interview with 3Sports, amid persistent speculation and public discourse surrounding the armband’s rotation in recent years.
The Black Stars’ captaincy has been under scrutiny following a series of leadership changes. Partey captained the team at times in the absence of long-serving leader Andre Ayew, but was unavailable for parts of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers due to injury. In his absence, Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayew alternated in leading the team.
Ahead of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed Jordan Ayew as the new permanent captain—a decision that sparked debates among fans and pundits.
However, Partey believes the perceived tension is manufactured outside the team environment.
“Personally, I’ve never thought of controlling or being the head of anything. I came to the Black Stars willingly. I want to be here because I have seen a lot of good players give everything for Ghana and enjoy it,” the 31-year-old said.
“When we switch from one captain to the other, it has to be smooth. I don’t know where the fight is coming from, I think it’s from outside. In the team, we don’t talk about any player or captaincy.”
“The problem is from outside, not inside, and then it becomes a problem for the coach because he gets asked about it, and the player also gets asked. Inside, there is nothing. Outside, everybody talks about it, and it becomes a problem,” he added.
The Black Stars will resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in September, with crucial matches lined up against Chad and Mali.
