Video: Black Stars Players Celebrate Arsenal Midfielder Thomas Partey on 30th Birthday

• Arsenal and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey has turned 30
• The Black Stars midfielder was celebrated by his teammates in camp
• Ghana are preparing for the AFCON qualifier against Madagascar

Players of the Black Stars joined teammate Thomas Partey in celebrating his 30th birthday.

The Arsenal star turned 30 on June 13, 2023, and was presented with a cake by the management of the Black Stars.

In a video shared on social media, Partey is seen with his teammates as he celebrated a new milestone in his life.

Partey joined the Black Stars on Monday evening as the team started preparations ahead of the penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar on Sunday.

The four-time African champions will leave Ghana on Friday for Antananarivo for the match on June 18.

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Ghana needs at least a point to seal qualification to next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The West African heavyweights have not won the Nations Cup in over four decades and will be hoping to end the drought in Ivory Coast next year.

"It's sad that Ghana as a country, we have not won a trophy in 40 years," said striker Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer, as quoted by Ghanasoccernet.

"The whole squad here wants to change that, we want to win a new trophy, but we can only do that together," he added.

Black Stars begin training

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Black Stars of Ghana held their first training session in Accra on Monday ahead of the penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.

Twenty-three out of the twenty-five players who reported to camp participated in full training as the players warmed themselves up ahead of Sunday's game in Antananarivo.

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Thomas Partey and Gideon Mensah were the only players who did not take part in training and are expected to join the rest of the team on Tuesday as preparations continue.

Mensah to miss Madagascar game

The Black Stars have been hit with another injury blow after defender Gideon Mensah pulled out of the squad for the upcoming game against Madagascar.

Forward Inaki Williams and defender Alexander Djiku were all withdrawn from the squad due to injuries.

Mensah's injury means the Black Stars have only one left-back for the trip to Antananarivo to face Madagascar in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.