{"id":5506,"date":"2025-04-11T14:02:05","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T14:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/?p=5506"},"modified":"2025-04-11T12:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T12:02:36","slug":"where-is-partey-fans-fume-as-ghanaian-star-is-snubbed-from-ucl-team-of-the-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/gh\/news\/where-is-partey-fans-fume-as-ghanaian-star-is-snubbed-from-ucl-team-of-the-week\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Where is Partey?\u2019 \u2013 Fans Fume as Ghanaian Star Is Snubbed from UCL Team of the Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

London, UK<\/b> \u2013 Arsenal’s dominant performance over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg was the talk of European football this week. However, in what has become a viral social media controversy, one glaring omission from UEFA\u2019s <\/span>Team of the Week<\/b> has sparked outrage: <\/span>Ghana\u2019s midfield general, Thomas Partey<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Partey was instrumental in Arsenal\u2019s stunning 3-0 home victory, displaying his trademark composure, intelligence, and physicality in midfield. But as UEFA announced its prestigious weekly team lineup, fans noticed the absence of the Ghanaian lynchpin and took to social media en masse to express their disbelief.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow can Thomas Partey dominate Real Madrid\u2019s midfield and not make the team? What are they watching?\u201d posted one user on X (formerly Twitter), a sentiment echoed by thousands under the now-trending hashtag <\/span>#WhereIsPartey<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"No<\/p>\n

A Masterclass from the Midfield Engine<\/b><\/h2>\n

In a match that saw Arsenal outclass the 14-time European champions, Thomas Partey completed 91% of his passes, recovered the ball 10 times, won six duels, and made two key interceptions\u2014more than any other midfielder in the match.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to tactical analysts, Partey\u2019s performance was key to neutralizing Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, with the Ghanaian covering vast stretches of the pitch, intercepting play, and transitioning defense to attack with elegance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a world-class display,\u201d said Premier League pundit Jamie Carragher. \u201cPartey showed why Arsenal are a completely different team when he\u2019s fit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bangbet Ghana News<\/span><\/a> also reported that sports betting patterns had shifted significantly after the game, with a spike in wagers favoring Arsenal to win the UCL, citing Partey\u2019s return to top form as a critical factor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Thomas<\/p>\n

UEFA\u2019s Team of the Week Backlash<\/b><\/h3>\n

UEFA\u2019s official Team of the Week featured standout players like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Lautaro Mart\u00ednez\u2014but not Thomas Partey. Instead, the midfield featured Toni Kroos, despite Madrid\u2019s poor showing, and Frenkie de Jong, whose Barcelona side barely scraped a 1-0 win.<\/span><\/p>\n

The decision has left fans and analysts stunned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith all due respect to Kroos, Partey bossed the midfield and helped destroy Madrid. This feels like a snub to African excellence,\u201d tweeted <\/span>@GH_FootballHub<\/span><\/i>, a popular Ghanaian football fan account with over 250,000 followers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thousands of fans\u2014especially in Ghana and the wider African football community\u2014have decried what they see as <\/span>a pattern of underappreciating African players<\/b>, even when their performances are objectively dominant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Thomas<\/p>\n

Ghanaian Media Erupts<\/b><\/h3>\n

Back home in Ghana, sports news outlets wasted no time joining the conversation. <\/span>MyJoyOnline<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Pulse Ghana<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>GhanaWeb Sports<\/span><\/i>, and others published editorials and fan reaction articles criticizing UEFA\u2019s selection.<\/span><\/p>\n

A strongly worded op-ed in <\/span>Ghana Football Daily<\/span><\/i> stated:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen an African star performs at the highest level against elite opposition and is still overlooked, we must ask: what else must he do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Local radio stations and television panels also dedicated significant airtime to dissecting the issue, with many urging the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and CAF (Confederation of African Football) to demand fairness and recognition for African athletes globally.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/p>\n

Partey\u2019s Response: Graceful but Focused<\/b><\/h2>\n

Interestingly, Thomas Partey himself has remained calm amidst the storm. Speaking to journalists during Arsenal\u2019s training session on Thursday, he acknowledged the fan support but remained focused on the bigger picture.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing is that the team won,\u201d said Partey. \u201cI always give my best. Recognition will come when it’s meant to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This statement further endeared him to fans, many of whom have praised his humility and maturity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a true leader,\u201d one Bangbet user commented on a sports betting community thread. \u201cForget UEFA. Partey\u2019s performance spoke louder than any list.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Partey\u2019s Stats: Beyond the Hype<\/b><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the numbers from the Arsenal-Real Madrid UCL clash, courtesy of Bangbet News:<\/span><\/p>\n