Ghana's football federation is in the middle of an urgent diplomatic scramble. The ministries of Sports and Recreation and Foreign Affairs are both in active talks with Canadian immigration authorities after midfielder Thomas Partey was refused a visa ahead of the Black Stars' World Cup opener against Panama.
The situation has pulled in two government ministries at once, which signals just how seriously Ghana is treating the matter. Partey is a key figure in the Black Stars setup, and his absence from such a high-stakes match would be a significant blow to the team's campaign.
As of now, negotiations are ongoing. Whether he makes it to Canada in time for the opener is the question every Ghana fan is holding their breath over.
Originally published by AllAfrica.