Carlos Queiroz don defend im decision to include Thomas Partey for Ghana squad wey go face Wales for Tuesday final warmup match before World Cup.
Partey, wey bin dey Arsenal before wey now dey play for Villarreal for Spain, don face charge of seven counts of rape and one of sexual assault for London between 2020 and 2022. The player deny all charges and trial don set for November this year, though e fit delay reach 2027.
Ghana boss Queiroz don name Partey for provisional 28-man World Cup squad, wey e trim to 26 players later on Monday. The 32-year-old fit play for United Kingdom for first time for Cardiff since im court appearance last September.
Queiroz, wey be 73 years old, talk say: “As far as I know, for England, Portugal, whatever, we dey live for this world, until court make decision, the presumption of innocence dey on side of all court cases. But today, this one no be only about Thomas, very unfortunately the way social media and media sometimes act with full and total impunity, we dey condemned even before we get opportunity to defend.”
Ghana, wey get Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Coventry striker Brandon Thomas-Asante and Leicester attacker Jordan Ayew for their ranks, dey for same World Cup group as England.
The match go mark 150th anniversary of Football of Wales and also be first time the Dragons don meet African opposition for home. Ghana dey willing to meet British opposition before take on Thomas Tuchel side for Boston on June 23.
Queiroz, wey be former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson for Manchester United and coach Iran for last World Cup, talk say: “It is an honour for us to be here and to play against the national team of Wales. For us, e important because e be part of our World Cup preparation. Everything don go according to our goals and we ready for takeoff and go to World Cup. I know from my experience that when we play great football, we get great chance to win. So this na wetin we want try do against Wales and we want express ourselves for this game.”
Along with match against England, Ghana open Group L play against Panama on June 17 for Toronto and go face Croatia.
