Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey has rejected claims of internal strife over the team’s captaincy, describing the controversy as exaggerated and driven by outside speculation rather than actual tension within the squad.
The debate over who should wear the armband for Ghana has intensified in recent months, especially following a series of changes in leadership during key fixtures. Partey, who has occasionally captained the side in the absence of long-time skipper Andre Ayew, missed recent matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers due to injury.
In his absence, Mohammed Kudus was handed the captain’s armband for the double-header against Sudan. However, in the next fixture, Jordan Ayew led the team out, a move that reignited public discussion about the team’s hierarchy—particularly after Ghana failed to secure a win during those matches.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) later announced Jordan Ayew as the new substantive captain of the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In an interview with 3Sports, Partey broke his silence on the matter, insisting there is no power struggle within the camp.
“Personally, I’ve never thought of controlling or being the head of anything. I came to the Black Stars willingly because I want to serve. I’ve seen a lot of great players give everything for Ghana and enjoy it,” said the 31-year-old Arsenal midfielder.
He emphasized that the transition between captains should be seamless and suggested that the controversy is being manufactured from outside the team.
“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.”
Partey also expressed concern that the external noise is creating unnecessary distractions for both the players and the technical team.
“The problem is from outside, not inside. Then it becomes a problem for the coach because he gets asked about it, and the players also get asked. Inside, there is nothing. Outside, everybody talks about it, and it becomes a problem,” he added.
The Black Stars are set to return to action in September for Matchday 7 and 8 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with matches scheduled against Chad and Mali.
