Ghana have named former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey in their final 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup tournament.
Partey, who now plays for La Liga side Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The allegations relate to claims made by four different women between 2020 and 2022, with the 32-year-old due to stand trial next year.
Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku offered his full backing to Partey, speaking directly to BBC Sport about the midfielder’s inclusion.
“Thomas is our vice-captain. He is one of the top midfielders in the world and we stand by him shoulder to shoulder,” Okraku said.
Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz initially named Partey in a preliminary 28-man squad for a pre-World Cup training camp and a friendly against Wales in Cardiff on 2 June.
Partey retained his place as Queiroz trimmed his selection to 26, with goalkeepers Solomon Agbasi and Paul Reverson the players cut from the preliminary squad.
Centre-back Alexander Djiku has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury as his Spartak Moscow team won the Russian Cup final on 24 May.
Netherlands-born defender Derrick Luckassen, who made his Ghana debut in March, has been called up to replace the injured Djiku.
Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus missed out on selection due to a quad injury that has kept him sidelined since January.
Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo and Coventry striker Brandon Thomas-Asante are both included in the final squad.
Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku have also been named, alongside goalkeeper Joseph Anang of League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick’s Athletic.
Partey made 167 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal between 2020 and 2025 before leaving the Gunners last summer when his contract expired.
Ghana begin their World Cup Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June, before facing England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.
