UEFA Champions League final loser Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid hopes to become a winner this week and help Ghana qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Partey came off the bench in Milan last Saturday, but could not prevent Madrid neighbours Real winning the European club football showpiece on penalties after a 1-1 draw. However, his first national squad call-up should end happily as Ghana visit Mauritius, an island state they trounced 7-1 last June when qualifying for Gabon began.
Partey arrived in Accra Tuesday boosted by recent praise from hard-to-please Atletico coach and former Argentina star Diego Simeone.
"Thomas is on his way to becoming a top footballer and I hope to help him achieve that goal," Simeone said of the 22-year-old central midfielder.
"He is developing as a footballer all the time and, although young, has strength, movement and can play between the lines."
In the hyper-competitive Spanish La Liga, Partey made 13 appearances last season for third-place Atletico, including three starts.An astute distributor of the ball, the Ghanaian lists Manchester City star and Ivory Coast captain Yaya Toure among the midfielders who have inspired him.
The Black Stars welcome back Swansea midfielder Andre 'Dede' Ayew, who will lead the team in the absence of injured captain and striker Asamoah Gyan. Ghana are among 10 nations who could secure places at the 2017 finals after four days of qualifying, which start Thursday in the Seychelles. The Black Stars have destiny in their own hands, as do Algeria, Cameroon, record seven-time Cup of Nations winners Egypt and Senegal.