Thomas Partey will not be on the pitch when Ghana kicks off their World Cup campaign. The Arsenal midfielder has been denied a Canadian visa, and an appeal against that decision has now been turned down.
The reason behind the refusal comes down to a previous arrest. Partey reportedly misled Canadian immigration officials about the incident, a move that proved costly when authorities reviewed his application.
Ghana will have to go into their opening World Cup match without one of their most influential players, leaving the team to find a way forward without their midfield anchor.
Originally published by BBC Africa.