“We Must Beat Panama for Thomas Partey”- Kwasi Sibo
Black Stars midfielder Kwasi Sibo has revealed that Ghana’s players are determined to dedicate victory to Thomas Partey when they face Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Partey will be absent from Wednesday’s Group L encounter in Toronto after failing in his appeal against a decision by Canadian immigration authorities to deny him entry into the country.
The setback has deprived Ghana of one of its most experienced players for the crucial opener, but Sibo says the squad has rallied around the midfielder and is motivated to secure a positive result in his honour.
Speaking after training in Toronto, the midfielder stressed that Partey remains an important member of the team despite his absence.
“Our brother has been through a lot and we are always with him. He is one of the biggest stars in our team but for that we have to make sure we win the game for him as a family and make him happy because he has been with us from the first day we started this campaign. It hurts that we are playing our first game, and he’s not with us. We are giving him our word,” Sibo said.
The midfielder was expected to form part of Ghana’s engine room alongside Partey at the tournament, making the Arsenal man’s absence an even bigger blow to the team’s plans.
However, Sibo’s comments underline the unity within the Black Stars camp as the players prepare to begin their World Cup journey against the Central American side.
After the Panama fixture, Ghana will return to the United States for their remaining group matches. Carlos Queiroz’s side will face England in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
The four-time African champions are targeting a place in the knockout stage for the first time since their historic quarter-final appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
With expectations high and emotions running strong following Partey’s absence, the Black Stars will be hoping to start their campaign with a victory that would not only boost their qualification hopes but also serve as a morale-lifting tribute to their sidelined teammate.
