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Sports News of Wednesday, 9 January 2019

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Atletico Madrid celebrates Partey for making CAF's Africa Bext XI team

Thomas Partey, Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, Atletico Madrid midfielder

Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have congratulated Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey for making it into the Africa best XI team of 2018 at the CAF Awards gala held on Tuesday.

The 25 year old was the only African Player from the Spanish La Liga to make the team which was dominated by English Premier League stars.

Partey won two trophies with Athletico Madrid last season and the former Spanish champions released a statement celebrating the Ghanaian.

"Thomas Partey has made the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) Africa Best XI 2018, the organization announced on Tuesday in Dakar," the club posted on their website.

"Our midfielder, a product of the Atlético de Madrid Academy and one of Ghana's captains, played 47 games last year. He was key to our team's Europa League and UEFA Super Cup successes and played four matches for his country, in which he scored a goal against Japan and another one against Iceland."

"The other players to have made the team of the year are goalkeeper Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns); defenders Serge Aurier (Tottenham), Mehdi Benatia (Juventus), Eric Bailly (Manchester United) and Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli); midfielders Naby Keita (Liverpool) and Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City); and strikers Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)."

Partey has become an integral member of coach Diego Simeone's side despite starting the season from the bench.