Ghana drop Arsenal ace Partey as they seek AFCON survival

JOHANNESBURG: Ghana have axed Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey for potential make-or-break Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with the first matchday five fixtures set for Wednesday.

Embattled coach Otto Addo refused to disclose why he omitted the 31-year-old, who has scored 13 goals in 49 international appearances. “My reasons are confidential. I hope he will rejoin us for the next international window in March (World Cup qualifying),” he told reporters.

In another decision involving Premier League stars, Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew has replaced West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Kudus as captain. Kudus led the Black Stars last month in home and away matches against Sudan, from which they took just one point, putting Ghana in danger of missing the finals for the first time since 2004.

The third most successful country in the AFCON with four titles have secured just two points from four Group F matches to lie third. Ghana must win away to leaders Angola on Friday and at home to Niger three days later to have any hope of overtaking second-placed Sudan and qualifying for the 2025 tournament in Morocco. However, Sudan need just one point from matches against Niger and Angola to secure qualification despite having to play home matches outside a country engulfed in a civil war.

Here, AFP Sport highlights five other matchday five clashes between Wednesday and Saturday, with the final round of qualifiers scheduled for the following three days. Benin v Nigeria

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen returns from injury for Group D fixtures against Benin and Rwanda with Nigeria needing one point to clinch qualification. Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface are just some of the options caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has when it comes to selecting his frontline.

Nigeria will be wary of Benin, though, having lost 2-1 to a team guided by former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr in a World Cup qualifier last year. Botswana v Mauritania Botswana appeared out of the running for a finals place after travel difficulties led to a four-goal hammering by Egypt that left the Zebras pointless and demoralised after two rounds.

But surprise home and away Group C wins over Cape Verde have placed them second behind already-qualified Egypt, and a home victory over Mauritania will clinch a place in Morocco. French coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa quit Botswana after the solitary-goal wins over Cape Verde to join Al Ahly Tripoli and South African Morena Ramoreboli has been placed in temporary charge.

Gambia v Comoros Comoros caused a major upset last month by winning in Tunisia through a Rafiki Said goal, ending a run of 16 straight home victories by the Carthage Eagles in AFCON qualifiers.