Thomas Partey cannot set foot in Canada, and that single fact is now shaping Ghana's World Cup preparations in a very real way. The midfielder, a key figure in the Black Stars setup, is banned from entering the country, which puts him out of contention for Ghana's opening World Cup fixture on Canadian soil.
The Ghanaian government is not sitting quietly with this development. Officials are pushing for a review of the ban, signaling that the situation is being treated as more than just a footballing matter.
How this plays out could define the tone of Ghana's entire tournament opener. Watch this space.
Originally published by BBC Africa.