Black Stars vice-captain Thomas Partey will be available for Ghana’s Round of 32 match against Colombia, as their third-place finish in Group L secured a knockout fixture in the United States.

Partey’s availability beyond the group stage was uncertain. If Ghana had finished second, they would have played Portugal in Toronto, where he remained ineligible after Canadian authorities denied him entry earlier in the tournament.

Partey missed Ghana’s opening match against Panama after Canada refused him entry due to his ongoing legal case in the United Kingdom. He has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. An appeal against the entry decision was unsuccessful.

Ghana finished third in Group L after a 2-1 loss to Croatia but advanced to the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. This result set up a match against Group K winners Colombia in Kansas City, making Partey available for selection.

The experienced midfielder returned against Croatia after missing the opener and is expected to play a key role against a Colombian team that finished ahead of Portugal in Group K.

Ghana’s third-place finish means they avoid another trip to Canada and will have one of their most influential players available for a crucial World Cup match.

Partey’s availability is a major boost for Carlos Queiroz as the Black Stars aim to reach the Round of 16 for the first time since their memorable 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final run.