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Terem Moffi opened his goal account for the 2021-22 French Ligue 1 season with the winning strike in their 1-0 win over Monaco on Friday.

After their 1-1 draw with Saint-Etienne a week ago, the 22-year-old powered Les Merlus to their maiden win of the season with his first-half strike at the      Stade du Moustoir.

Moffi stepped forward to convert from the penalty spot in the 31st minute as the hosts held on to the lead for the entirety of the game.

Romelu Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello has claimed he and his family were subject to threats over his involvement in the striker's transfer from Inter to Chelsea.

Chelsea completed the £98 million ($136m) signing of Lukaku from Inter this week, as the Belgian returned for a second spell at Stamford Bridge.

In a statement released on Friday, Pastorello said that Lukaku's move away from Milan has led to some ugly behaviour from a segment of Inter fans.

What was said?

"I have always accepted - and will continue to do so - confrontation and constructive criticism: they are part of the game for those who play a role with considerable media relevance," Pastorello said.

"What we absolutely cannot tolerate are the falsehoods, insinuations, insults and threats we have received [also against my family and my daughters], which have far exceeded the limits of civilisation, decency and tolerance.

"Believe it or not, the supporters' affection and the special bond with the city of Milan made him think about it for a long time: but then, once he made his decision, he carried on with conviction and firmness.

"The economic aspect is a detail, but it is not the main factor that determines our choices and those of our clients.

"With regards to FC Internazionale, I can guarantee that the Sport CEO Giuseppe Marotta, the sporting director Piero Ausilio - as well as the coach Simone Inzaghi, who worked at this personally - did everything in their power to avoid this transfer.

"But there are circumstances that go beyond their decision-making range and depend on the instructions of the owners."

What's next for Chelsea?

The Blues kick off their Premier League campaign on Saturday when they face Crystal Palace.

Lukaku will not be involved in the match against the Eagles, and could make his second Chelsea debut next Sunday when the Blues take on Arsenal.

Further reading

Manchester United begin their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a home game against historical rivals Leeds United.

Watch Man Utd vs Leeds on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

The rivalry heated up in the 1970s but with fans allowed back in stadiums this season, it will be fully renewed once again.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Premier League matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

Man Utd has a long injury list to begin the season, with Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Alex Telles and Dean Henderson all out.

Edinson Cavani has been given extra time to rest following Copa America and will not play a part against Leeds.

New signing Jadon Sancho is not expected to play either as he only joined up with the club for training this week.

Predicted Man Utd starting XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Matic, Fred; Pogba, Fernandes, Greenwood; Martial.

Leeds has just one main injury worry with Diego Llorente missing out for Marcelo Bielsa's side.

Summer signing Junior Firpo could be thrown straight into the starting XI at full-back.

Bielsa confirmed that Kalvin Phillips and Jamie Shackleton have both proven their fitness and could be involved at Old Trafford.

Predicted Leeds starting XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo; Raphinha, Dallas, Rodrigo, Phillips, Harrison; Bamford.

Last five results

Head-to-head

Ghanaian side Hearts of Oak have been pitted against Guinean side Club Industriel de Kamsar in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League.

On their return to the elite inter-club championship after an absence of more than 10 years, the Phobians will face the Guinean National Championship runners-up for a place in the first round of the continental contest.

The draw for the competition was conducted in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Friday.

Hearts are set to travel away for the first leg during the weekend of September 10-12, before hosting the second leg in Accra the following weekend.

Should Hearts emerge winners on aggregate, they will progress to the first round, from where they could enter the group stage.

Hearts secured a qualification ticket for the Champions League after beating arch-rivals Asante Kotoko to the Ghana Premier League title last month.

There was more in store for the Phobians as they ended the 2020-21 term with a domestic double after beating Ashanti Gold on penalties to win the FA Cup.

The upcoming campaign will be their first appearance in Africa since 2015 when they fell to Tunisian giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis in the Caf Confederation Cup.

“If we are going to go to Africa we have to do some additions to the team. We also need to do some introductions because we are going to play with big teams," Hearts board member Frank Nelson Nwokolo told Citi Sports last month.

“We know our boys are very good but at the end of the day we want to prove that we equally are very good.

“The teams we are going to meet need to know that we are not there just to add up to the numbers, but we are there for a reason. That reason is for us to do what we have done in the year 2000 and 2004 by lifting the trophies in Africa.

“Certainly, we need those game-changers, and we will bring them into the club. We know they are there."

In the Caf Confederation Cup, Ghana will have no representation after failing to register a candidate.

Mikel Arteta has said that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were left out of Arsenal's season opener against Brentford because the two "feel unwell".

Both Aubemeyang and Lacazette featured for Arsenal in pre-season, but the club's two star attackers did not make the matchday squad for Friday's Premier League opener.

Folarin Balogun has been handed his Premier League debut in their stead as the England Under-20 striker joined Arsenal's attack alongside the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli.

What did Arteta say?

"[Aubameyang and Lacazette] feel unwell, that's all I can say. Instead of thinking of excuses, we think of solutions so that's what we will do today," Arteta told Sky Sports before the game.

"It is a really young [Arsenal] team, full of excitement and energy and that's what I want to see on the pitch.

"The chances come for different reasons in your career. [Folarin Balogun] has one today so he better enjoy it.

"[Brentford] are very dangerous. They are very exciting and [promotion] was deserved. They had a long journey to the Premier League. They fully deserve the position they are in.

"We want to keep going, keep improving and we know this league is a long marathon. Today is day one so let's enjoy it."

Arsenal's first lineup

Arsenal's big summer signing Ben White was named to the club's first starting XI of the year, having made the move to London from Brighton this summer.

He was joined by Pablo Mari in central defence with Calum Chambers and Kieran Tierney out wide.

The midfield consists of summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga alongside Grant Xhaka, while Bernd Leno starts in goal.

Further reading

Nigeria Professional Football League champions Akwa United will battle Algerian Ligue 1 champions CR Belouizdad in the first round of Caf Champions League preliminaries.

 The Promise Keepers won their maiden league title earlier this month and will aim to qualify for the group stages of the continental tournament when the qualifiers begin in September.

Kennedy Boboye's men will host the Algerian club at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium for the first-leg before the Algeria trip for the reverse fixture.

Rivers United who finished as runners-up in the 2020-21 NPFL season, are the country's second representative in the Champions League and they will face Tanzania's Young Africans Sports Club.

Last season, the Pride of Rivers had an unsuccessful outing in the Caf Confederation Cup qualifiers as they were knocked out by rivals Enyimba on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates have both been given a bye in the preliminary round of Caf's inter-club tournaments.

Sundowns are one of the top-ranked sides in the Caf Champions League and they have been exempted from the preliminary round of Africa's most prestigious club tournament.

The Tshwane giants, who won the Champions League in 2016, will take part in the first round having qualified for the competition after winning the 2020/21 PSL title.

They will await the winner of the preliminary round tie between Gabonese champions Bouenguidi Sports and DR Congolese side AS Maniema Union.

While AmaZulu FC have been pitted against Malawian giants Nyasa Big Bullets in what will be their debut appearance in the Champions League. 

Usuthu will take on five-time Champions League winners Tout Puissant Mazembe of DR Congo in the first round tie if they overcome Big Bullets.

AmaZulu secured their spot in the competition after finishing second in the PSL last season under the guidance of their Uefa Champions League-winning coach Benni McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Pirates have been given a bye in the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round due to their ranking after qualifying for Africa's secondary club tournament as third-place finishers in the PSL last term.

The Buccaneers, who reached last season's Confederation Cup quarter-finals, will take on the winner between Burundian side Bumamuru FC and Congo-Brazzaville outfit Diables Noirs in the first round tie.

While tournament debutants Marumo Gallants are set to take on Futuro Kings from Equatorial Guniea in the preliminary round.

Gallants (formerly known as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila) qualified for the Confederation Cup after winning the Nedbank Cup last season.

The preliminary round matches for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup will be played next month.

The first-round ties are scheduled to take place in October this year.

Full Caf inter-club draw 

Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka is making his Premier League debut in Friday’s opening match against Arsenal.

The Nigeria international moved to Brentford Community Stadium on a five-year deal from FC Midtjylland in July, and he joins Vitaly Janelt in strengthening the Bees’ midfield.

Prior to Friday's match, Onyeka delivered impressive performances for the 2021 Championship play-offs winners in a pre-season friendly outings against Valencia and Manchester United, which include scoring a goal against the Spanish club.

Another African star in Thomas Frank's team is DR Congo winger Yoane Wissa but the 24-year-old is starting on the bench as he just completed a permanent move from Lorient two days ago.

Onyeka earned his maiden invitation to the Super Eagles in September 2020 and he made his debut for the three-time African champions in a 1-0 defeat to Algeria in October 2020.

On the other hand, Nigeria descent Folarin Balogun led Arsenal's attack in the absence of Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has missed the Gunners' training sessions in the last two days.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe has got a spot on the right side of the attack and DR Congolese descent Albert Sambi Lokonga got the nod ahead of Egypt's Mohamed Elneny in the middle of the park.

Upon Onyeka’s arrival at Brentford, Frank described the 23-year-old who scored three goals in 27 Danish Superliga matches last season as a strong addition to his team.

“I am looking forward to getting Frank in the building. We think he is a strong addition to the squad, and we are looking forward to working with him. He is a very dynamic player,” Frank said.

“Frank plays as an eight in our system, he is very good at getting from box to box and will be valuable to us when we don’t have the ball. He has come from the Danish league and was one of the best midfield players in that league; we think he has the potential to develop further.

“All the coaches here are looking forward to working with Frank and pushing him to a higher level.”

Kenya's Gor Mahia have been exempted from the initial round of the 2021/22 Caf Confederation Cup as they are among the top-ranked teams.

Gor Mahia, who are starting in the continent's second-tier for the first time in four years, will join the rest in the second round.

After winning the Premier League title since 2017, Gor Mahia have been starting in the Champions League before dropping to the Confederation Cup.

This time, they will wait to see who their second-round rival will be after a winner emerges from the Atlabara FC vs Al Ahly Merowe FC fixture.

Atlabara - who were part of the Cecafa Kagame Club Championship in Tanzania before they were eliminated, will face Merowe from their northern neighbour Sudan.

Meanwhile, Tanzania's Biashara United - led by Kenyan coach Francis Baraza - will face off with Djibouti's FC Dikhil.

URA FC of Uganda, after making technical changes recently, will begin their campaign with a game against Ethiopian Coffee FC.

RS Berkane of Morocco, Pyramids of Egypt, DR Congo's AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe, Cameroon's Coton Sport, Enyimba of Nigeria, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia, Al Masry of Egypt, Algeria's JS Saoura, and Orlando Pirates of South Africa, as well as Primeiro de Agosto of Angola, are the other top-ranked teams exempted from the initial round and will join the competition directly in the second round.

First Round Fixtures:

US Ben Guerdane vs AS Police Niger

ASFAR vs Buffles FC

Diambars FC vs Wakirya Athletic Club

AS Ashanti Golden Boys vs Bayelsa United

ASCK vs Asac Concorde

Azam FC vs Horseed Sports Club

URA FC vs Ethiopian Coffee FC

Atlabara Junior vs AL Ahly Merowe

Futuro Kings FC vs Marumo Gallants FC

AS Mangasports vs Orapa United

Bomamuru FC vs Diables Noirs 

Red Arrows FC vs Young Buffaloes FC

Olympique De Missiri-Sima vs AS Kigali

Binga FC vs MC Breweries

Asfa Yennenga vs FC San Pedro

FC Dikhil vs Biashara United

Hay Alwady Nyala vs Ahly Tripoli

CFFA vs Kabwe Warriors

Mafunzo FC vs GD Interclube

Tigres will look to bounce back from a rough run of recent form when they travel to face a similarly out-of-sorts Puebla in Liga MX.

Watch Puebla vs Tigres on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

Both UNAL and Los Camoteros meet with two losses in their last two games - and both Miguel Herrera and Nicolas Larcamon will want to buck the trend at Estadio Cuauhtemoc.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch on TV, stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream & how to watch

In the United States (US), Liga MX matches can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (watch with a 7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news & rosters

With just one point from their first three top-flight games this term, Nicolas Larcamon's men have found the going tough, particularly after last term's semi-final finish in the Clausura.

Captain Fernando Aristeguieta is still looking for his first goal of the new campaign, with Christian Tabo the only member of their side to score so far - and breaking their barren streak in front of the net will be crucial to turning their form around.

Predicted Puebla starting XI:  Silva; Corral, Gularte, Reyes, Segovia, Araujo; Tabo, Salas, Vazquez, Alvarez; Aristeguieta.

It's one win, one loss and one draw for Miguel Herrera's side so far, as they look to force themselves into the Apertura conversation at this early part of the season.

Florian Thauvin picked up a straight red card upon his return from Olympics duty against Santos Laguna, while Andre-Pierre Gignac sat out the midweek Leagues Cup defeat to Seattle Sounders, with both expected to be absent for this domestic clash.

Predicted Tigres starting XI:  Guzman; Rodriguez, Salcedo, Reyes, Venegas; Carioca, Ayala, Vigon; Aquino, Gonzalez, Lopez.

Last five results

Head-to-head

Juventus were unable to agree a deal to sign Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo after the two clubs met for an initial meeting, Goal can confirm.

Further talks are planned between the two sides, with the first hour-long meeting ending with the clubs deciding to return to talks next week.

The two clubs continue to discuss the finances of the potential deal with Juventus set to push forward to sign the Sassuolo star.

The chase so far

Juventus have been chasing Locatelli for months, with the Italy international also wanting to complete the move this summer.

Locatelli has also attracted interest from the Premier League, with Arsenal mentioned as a potential landing spot, but Juventus is seen as his preferred option.

Sassuolo have held firm on their asking price of €40 million (£35m/$47m) while Juventus vice-chairman Pavel Nedved recently said that he believes the club's valuation of the Italy midfielder is fair.

The start of Serie A

The negotiations continue as the Serie A season looms, with Italy's top flight set to kick off on August 21.

Juventus will open the season on August 22 with a visit to Udinese while Sassuolo visit Verona the day prior.

Further reading

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“What was your first replica shirt?” Ask any football fan and they will be able to describe the colour, the season, and whose name was on the back of it. With the sky-high prices of big-brand replica shirts only continuing to climb, many fans have turned to retro shirts for solace. 

No longer only available to avid shirt collectors who value their collection based on if they’re match worn or signed for hundreds of pounds on auction sites, brands like Score Draw have popped up to fill a much-needed gap in the market. 

One only had to take a look at any England match during the Euros to be met with a sea of jazzy bright blue replicas of the third shirts from the 1990 World Cup popularised by the World in Motion music video. With stadiums welcoming back fans after a long pause, now might be the time to get that shirt you’ve wanted since you were a kid. 

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Brentford attacker Tariqe Fosu Henry admits the club are under pressure to perform as the Premier League season gets underway on Friday. 

The Bees are set for a historic first campaign in the English elite division after securing promotion from the Championship last term. 

Their campaign takes off with a home clash with Arsenal.

"As a club, we were always determined to make it to a top level and it was something that I recognised quickly when I joined," Ghana attacker Fosu told the BBC. 

"Pressure will always be there when you want to get the win for your team and make the fans proud. I don't think it's a bad thing - pressure can be seen as a good thing.

"I think the combination of fans returning to stadiums and larger crowds will definitely be something that will feel different for me as we have been playing behind closed doors for a long while now."

In his first year of elite division football, Fosu has set personal targets for himself too. 

In the Championship last season, the 25-year-old made 41 league appearances, involving 20 starts to help the Bees achieve their ambition.

Only two seasons ago, he was playing in the English third tier.

"My personal target is to play in the Premier League and try to help the team as much as possible and also be in the league for [a] long [time]," he added. 

"It's a new challenge considering the fact that I have never played in the league before but something I'm excited to see what it's like and to try to leave a mark.

"In terms of work-rate, my expectations will be the same. I like to put 100% into everything I do, especially when it comes to playing my part for the team.

"One thing I think I have considered a lot more is preparation. We had a very long season and so it's easy to want to take a break but I think it's important to start working ahead of pre-season. That part is vital."

Fosu is one of five Ghana internationals set to feature in the Premier League this season, the others being Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, Crystal Palace duo Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp, and Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey. 

Lamontville Arrows head coach Lehlohonolo Seema has addressed reports linking Nkosinathi Sibisi with Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. 

The 25-year-old defender was one of the most understanding defenders in the PSL last season and he captained Abafana Bes'thende to a fourth spot finish in the league. 

Sundowns' senior coach Steve Komphela - a former Arrows head coach - is believed to be keen to reunite with Sibisi.

While other reports have indicated that Sibisi is viewed as a possible replacement for the ageing Happy Jele at Pirates where he would reunite with his former coach Mandla Ncikazi. 

Seema, who replaced Ncikazi as Abafana Bes'thende head coach last month, did not rule out the possibility of losing the talented player. 

“Sibisi is still our player and you saw him in the [KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Cup]," Seema said on Daily Sun. 

"Someone said I played him because there are rumours about him and I said no as far as I’m concerned, Sibisi is still our player and still with us,” said Seema.

“Of course, I’m not ruling anything out because this is football. Anything can happen. But one thing for sure I’m preparing for the season with Sibisi.”

Sibisi played 28 matches across all competitions for Arrows last season and he made his international debut for Bafana Bafana against Uganda in a friendly match in June this year. 

His teammate Ntsako Makhubela missed Arrows' clash against AmaZulu FC last weekend and there have reports suggesting that he is set to leave the Durban-based side.

Pirates and Chiefs have both been credited with an interest in the skillful winger, who was one of Arrows' best attackers last season.

However, Seema indicated that Makhubela missed the match against AmaZulu due to injury with the player having scored three times and provided two assists in the league last term.

“The medical team will guide us. There are still certain aspects of the training sessions that he’s not taking part with the full team,” the Mosotho tactician concluded. 

The 27-year-old played for the Pirates academy and reserve team, before being released by the club after a loan spell with Real Kings in the National First Division in 2018.

Arrows are scheduled to face SuperSport United in the MTN8 quarter-final match on Saturday.

Newcastle have confirmed the permanent signing of midfielder Joe Willock from Arsenal in a deal that could be worth up to £25 million ($35m).

The 21-year-old starred for the Magpies on a half-season loan from the Gunners last term, scoring eight goals after joining the club in January.

Willock has signed a long-term deal with Newcastle and will wear the No 28 shirt, as he did last term.

What was said?

"I'm buzzing to be here," Willock told Newcastle's official website. "I loved my time here last season and I'm really happy to be back and to be a Newcastle United player.

"Leaving Arsenal is obviously a big step, and I'd like to thank everyone involved with the club for all their support over the years, but this is the right move to the right club at the right time for me.

"I only got one chance to play in front of a smaller number of Newcastle fans as a home player last season, so I can't wait to step out in front of a packed St. James' Park and experience that atmosphere."

Head coach Steve Bruce added: "I'm absolutely delighted to secure our No 1 target. We have had to be patient and persistent, but it has been worth the wait to bring Joe back."

Why did Arsenal let Willock go?

Willock developed through Arsenal's academy and emerged as one of the club's most talented midfield prospects, making his senior debut in the 2017-18 season. The midfielder broke through in 2019-20 by making 44 appearances for the club, most of which came off the bench. 

Arsenal were unable to offer Willock a guaranteed run of starts last term, which saw him make the move to Newcastle for the second half of the campaign.

The Gunners are eyeing a move for another attacking midfielder before the transfer window shuts, with Martin Odegaard and James Maddison on the agenda.

Goal has confirmed that Real Madrid are open to selling Odegaard for €40 million (£34m/$47m) this summer, with Arsenal now poised to accelerate transfer talks.

In order to fund a move for either Odegaard or Maddison, Arsenal needed to raise funds through sales, which has led to Willock's departure.

Further reading

The 2021-21 Carabao Cup kicked off at the beginning August, with Championship, League One and League Two sides entering the competition.

Premier League sides join in the second round and third round, with the latter stages of the competition, such as the Wembley final, set to be played in early 2022.

Here Goal has the complete tournament guide, such as the participating teams, full draw information for each round, fixture schedules and results.

Carabao Cup 2021-22 third round

Seven Premier League clubs - Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Leicester, Tottenham and West Ham - enter the competition at the third round.

The date of the draw for the third has not yet been confirmed. Games will take place on the week commencing September 20.

Carabao Cup 2021-22 second round

The draw for the second round of the 2021-22 Carabao Cup was held on August 11, 2021.

A total of 13 Premier League clubs entered the Carabao Cup second round. They joined the 35 winners of the first round and two clubs from the Championship.

Northern section

Southern section

Carabao Cup 2021-22 first round

Northern section

Southern section

How to watch Carabao Cup 2021-22 games live on TV

Sky Sports has the broadcasting rights for the Carabao Cup in the United Kingdom and games can be watched live on the network's various TV channels.

ESPN has the rights to show Carabao Cup games live on TV in the United States.

When is the Carabao Cup 2021-22 final?

The 2021-22 Carabao Cup final is scheduled to be played on Sunday February 27, 2022.

Wembley Stadium, the spiritual home of English football, is the traditional venue for the showpiece event.

What is the Carabao Cup prize money?

The prize for winning the 2020-21 Carabao Cup final was £100,000, which is roughly $136,000. The runner-up received £50,000 ($68k) for their trouble.

Compared with England's other competitions, such as the Premier League and FA Cup, the prize money for the Carabao Cup is relatively low.

However, winning the trophy does offer a route into European competition, with a place in the Europa Conference League an associated reward.

Who won last season's Carabao Cup?

Manchester City defeated Tottenham to lift the Carabao Cup at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Pep Guardiola's side emerged victorious at Wembley thanks to a solitary Aymeric Laporte goal.

It was a record-equalling eighth League Cup for City, who drew level with Liverpool to become the joint-most successful team in the history of the competition.

Impressively, it was their fourth League Cup success in a row, having also won the competition in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been included in Ghana’s provisional squad for their upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Ethiopia despite currently nursing an injury.

The 28-year-old headlines a 30-man Black Stars roster unveiled at a press conference on Friday.

The list also includes Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who is also recovering from an injury picked up while in pre-season action against Red Bull Salzburg last month.

On a mission for a prompt return to the World Cup after missing out on the 2018 gathering in Russia, Ghana will open their 2022 qualifying campaign with a home clash with Ethiopia on September 3, before travelling to face South Africa on matchday two, three days later.

Despite being listed in Ghana’s squad, Partey remains a major doubt for the upcoming games after suffering an ankle injury as Arsenal faced Chelsea in a pre-season match earlier this month.

According to the Gunners, the midfielder is only expected to return to the pitch at the end of August, hugely restricting his chances of heading out for international duty next month.

The Black Stars, however, have no worries over the availability of Stade Rennes sensation Kamaldeen Sulemana, who has been listed for a possible return to international duty for the first time since October last year.

Also making a comeback are Anderlecht midfielder Majeed Ashimeru and Columbus Crew captain Jonathan Mensah.

KAS Eupen goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Sturm Graz striker Kelvin Yeboah and Hearts of Oak attacker Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, meanwhile, have been called up for the first time.

Aside from Ethiopia and South Africa, Ghana will also face Zimbabwe in Group G for the sole ticket to the next round of the African qualifiers.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Orlando Pirates FC, South Africa), Lawrence Ati Zigi (St. Galen FC, Switzerland), Manaf Nurudeen (Kas Eupen, Belgium), Richard Atta (Hearts of Oak, Ghana)

Full-backs: Benson Anang (Zilina FC, Slovakia), Andy Yiadom Andrew (Reading FC, England), Baba Abdul Rahman (Chelsea FC, England), Gideon Mensah (FC Girondins Bordeaux, France), Baffour Philimon (Dreams FC, Ghana)

Centre-backs: Alexander Djiku (RC Strasbourg, France), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City FC, England), Ismael Ganiyu (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA)

Midfielders: Mubarak Wakaso (Shenzhen, China), Iddrisu Baba (Real Mallorca, Spain), Thomas Partey (Arsenals FC, England), Emmanuel Lomotey (Amiens FC, France)

Wingers:  Joel Fameye (Orenburg FC, Russia), Samuel Owusu (Al Fayhad, Saudi Arabia), Gyasi Emmanuel (Spezia, Italy), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Rennes FC, France), Tariqe Fosu Henry (Brentford FC, England), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Steadfast FC, Ghana)

Attacking Midfielders: Afriyie Banieh (Hearts of Oak, Ghana), Kudus Mohamed (Ajax FC, Holland), Majeed Ashimeru (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium)

Strikers: Andre Ayew (Al Saad, Qatar), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace, England),  Kwame Opoku (USM Algiers, Algeria), Kelvin Yeboah (Sturm Graz, Austria)