BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER

Ghana’s hopes of having midfielder Thomas Partey available for their crucial FIFA World Cup clash against Panama suffered a major setback on Tuesday after a Canadian court dismissed his appeal against a visa refusal.

The Federal Court in Ottawa rejected an application by Partey, 33, seeking to overturn a decision by Canadian authorities that denied him entry into the country ahead of Ghana’s Group L encounter in Toronto on Wednesday.

In his ruling, Judge Roger Lafreniere said Partey had sought “extraordinary, mandatory interlocutory relief” that would have compelled Canadian authorities to set aside a “lawfully rendered inadmissibility finding and facilitate his entry for a specific event.”

The decision effectively ends the player’s efforts to feature in Ghana’s second group match after his legal team confirmed before the ruling that no further appeal would be pursued if the case was dismissed.

Partey’s lawyer, Mackeda Bramwell, had expressed optimism about the outcome before the verdict but did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the court’s decision.

The former Arsenal midfielder is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault in Britain, allegations he has consistently denied.

While the United States granted Partey a visa to enter the country for the World Cup, Canadian immigration authorities maintained that under Canadian law, a foreign national can be deemed inadmissible even without a conviction in another jurisdiction.

“When there are reasonable grounds to believe an act that would trigger inadmissibility has been committed by an applicant, they can be deemed inadmissible to Canada,” a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told Reuters.

The visa refusal has generated widespread reaction among Ghanaian football supporters both in Ghana and within Canada’s sizeable Ghanaian community.

Speaking to Reuters earlier this week, Akua Mensah, a 45-year-old Canadian of Ghanaian heritage, described the Canadian government’s decision as unfortunate, reflecting the frustration felt by many supporters who had hoped to see one of the Black Stars’ most experienced players in action at the tournament.

Partey’s absence is a significant blow for Ghana as they prepare for their showdown with Panama, with the experienced midfielder expected to miss the match unless there is an unexpected change in his immigration status.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER.

France captain Kylian Mbappe etched his name into the record books on Tuesday, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Senegal to become France’s all-time leading international goalscorer.

The 27-year-old striker surpassed the previous record of 57 goals held by Olivier Giroud during France’s Group I opener at New York New Jersey Stadium.

After a subdued first half, Mbappe came to life after the break, putting France ahead in the 66th minute when he calmly slipped the ball past the Senegal goalkeeper for his 57th international goal, drawing level with Giroud’s long-standing mark.

The Real Madrid forward then claimed the record outright deep into stoppage time, unleashing a thunderous strike to register his 58th goal for France and seal a memorable night for the World Cup holders.

Giroud, who was working as a pundit for the BBC, was among the first to congratulate his former teammate.

“Congrats, Kylian. You made it. I’m really happy for him,” Giroud said after Mbappe broke his record.

The former France striker also revealed that Mbappe had promised to give him the match shirt from the historic occasion.

Mbappe had faced intense scrutiny heading into the tournament, with expectations high following another prolific season at club level. However, the French captain emphatically answered his critics, leading his side to victory in their opening match of the tournament.

The win gives France an ideal start to their World Cup campaign ahead of their next Group I fixture against Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday. Didier Deschamps’ side will then conclude the group stage against Norway on June 26.

With the scoring record now his, Mbappe’s attention will turn to guiding France deeper into the tournament as they seek to retain the World Cup crown.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, VANCOUVER.

France overcame a sluggish first-half display to defeat Senegal 3-1 in their opening Group I match of the FIFA World Cup at New York/New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday, with captain Kylian Mbappe making history as his side began their title defence in style.

The French were second best for much of the opening period as Senegal matched and at times outplayed the reigning champions, creating the better opportunities and unsettling Didier Deschamps’ side with their pace and physicality.

However, France emerged a different team after the break and gradually asserted their superiority, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute through Mbappe.

The Real Madrid forward found space in the Senegalese defence and calmly finished to score his 57th international goal, drawing level with former striker Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer.

France’s dominance grew as the match wore on and substitute Bradley Barcola doubled the advantage late in the contest, putting the result beyond doubt.

Senegal refused to surrender and were rewarded in stoppage time when Ibrahim Mbaye pulled a goal back to briefly raise hopes of a dramatic comeback.

Those hopes lasted only moments, however, as Mbappe responded almost immediately with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area deep into added time.

The goal was his 58th for France, allowing him to surpass Giroud and become the nation’s outright leading scorer while sealing a convincing 3-1 victory.

The result gives France a perfect start to their World Cup campaign and puts them in a strong position in Group I.

The group’s other opening match was scheduled for later on Tuesday, with Iraq taking on Norway in Boston.

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