Hughton, addressing the media after unveiling his 27-man squad for the tournament today, explained that Partey's ongoing recovery from injury hindered his inclusion.

Partey has been sidelined for approximately two months, causing him to miss Ghana's initial matches in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. His last appearance for the Black Stars dates back to an international friendly against the USA, which ended in a 4-0 loss.

Despite recent signs of progress, the Arsenal midfielder has not featured in a match since October, with the club adopting a cautious approach to his return. Hughton's decision to exclude Partey from the final squad was influenced by discussions with the player and Arsenal's medical team.

"Thomas Partey is one of our most important players. Without his injury, he certainly would be in the squad; we know the quality of player that he is. This is a player that suffered a substantial injury," expressed Hughton during the press conference. "I've spent a lot of this period of time with Thomas and also engaged the medical staff at Arsenal. They will treat this injury with caution, and so will the player. This is a big injury for him, the biggest injury he's had."

The coach emphasized the importance of providing support to Partey during this recovery period, highlighting that the timelines for his rehabilitation do not align with the imminent AFCON.

Ghana's central midfield options for the tournament will include Salis Samed, Baba Iddrisu, Elisha Owusu, Majeed Ashimeru, and Asante Kotoko captain Richmond Lamptey.

The AFCON is scheduled to commence on January 13, with hosts Ivory Coast facing Guinea Bissau. The Black Stars will kick off their campaign the following day against Cape Verde.