Toronto: A Canadian court has dismissed Thomas Partey's appeal against the refusal of his visa application, causing the Black Stars midfielder to miss Ghana's opening match against Panama in Toronto for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
According to Ghana News Agency, Partey's legal team was attempting to overturn the immigration decision in hopes of securing clearance for him to join his teammates in Canada. The Black Stars arrived in Toronto on Monday afternoon without their deputy captain, following the visa denial.
During court proceedings on Tuesday afternoon, Partey's lawyer argued that the court could impose conditions to allow his entry into Canada, emphasizing that Partey had no intention of residing in the country. The lawyer characterized the initial visa denial as 'unfair and incomplete' and requested a conditional clearance for travel to Canada.
The legal team also urged the judge to make a swift decision, highlighting the urgency due to Ghana's upcoming opening Group L fixture. Despite the legal setback, the Black Stars are scheduled to train at the BMO Field this evening as they prepare for tomorrow's crucial match against Panama.
Notably, Thomas Partey, a former Arsenal player, is also awaiting trial in England over rape and sexual assault charges.