Reports indicate that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is planning to place midfielder Thomas Partey at the front of the team’s pre-match handshake line ahead of Ghana’s meeting with England.
According to the reports, the move is intended to send a clear message of solidarity from the entire Ghana squad.
The reported stance suggests that any player or official who chooses not to shake hands with Partey would, in effect, be declining to greet the entire Ghana team. The message attributed to the plan has been described as straightforward: “skip Partey, and you skip the whole Ghana team.”
The reported decision has attracted attention because pre-match handshakes are often viewed as symbolic displays of respect between competing teams before kick-off. By positioning Partey first in the line, Ghana would be making a visible statement of unity around one of its most prominent players.
Neither further details nor an official explanation were included in the reports, but the move has been interpreted as a collective show of support from the Ghana camp.
Thomas Partey has long been an important figure for Ghana, and any decision involving his role in a high-profile international fixture is likely to attract significant scrutiny. The reported plan would place him at the centre of one of the most visible moments before the match begins, ensuring that all attention is focused on the opening exchanges of the traditional handshake ceremony.
Should the arrangement go ahead as reported, England’s players and officials would encounter Partey first as they move through the line. The symbolism of that positioning has become the main talking point emerging from the reports.
The gesture would also underline the concept of team unity, with Ghana reportedly seeking to demonstrate that its players stand together as a single group. The message conveyed by the reported plan is that any decision regarding interaction with one player should be viewed as a decision regarding the entire squad.
At present, the reports suggest the proposal remains a matter of discussion around the upcoming fixture. However, the prospect of Partey leading the line has already generated interest because of the strong statement it would represent.
If implemented, the move would transform a routine pre-match tradition into a moment carrying additional significance, with Ghana reportedly determined to emphasise collective support and solidarity ahead of its encounter with England.
The central message emerging from the reports remains unchanged: Ghana’s players are expected to present a united front, with Partey positioned at the head of the line as a visible symbol of that unity.
