Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, who is due to appear in the UK to face rape charges, had his legal appeal rejected on Tuesday; it would have allowed him to enter Canada to attend his team's first World Cup match in Toronto.
Ottawa refused to grant a visa to the Villarreal player because of the charges against him in the UK, thus preventing him from playing for Ghana against Panama on Wednesday.
Accra filed an injunction application in federal court on Tuesday seeking to overturn Ottawa's decision.
But the CBC network reported that Judge Roger Lafrenière had rejected the appeal.
Shortly before the decision was handed down, Carlos Queiroz, Ghana's veteran coach, told reporters in Toronto that his team would be ready regardless of the outcome of the trial.
"My job is to play with the cards I'm dealt," said Queiroz.
"When the decision is made, we will be ready."
When asked about Partey's possible absence, Panama's coach, Thomas Christiansen, said he believed Ghana would still be a formidable opponent, even if the former Arsenal player was not on the field.
"They have many other footballers capable of taking over," he said in Spanish.
Ghana would not be "weaker" because of Partey's absence, he added.
"They have a lot more experience than us," Christiansen said of the Black Stars.
Ghana's Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, called Canada's decision "despotic and extremely unfair," describing Partey as "a key member of Ghana's senior national team."
Accra has sent an official "note of protest" to Ottawa regarding this measure and has formally asked Canada to reconsider its decision, Mr. Ablakwa said.
The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs told AFP that it "maintains regular diplomatic relations with Ghana, particularly on consular and migration issues when they arise."
The ministry declined to comment on discussions with Ghana regarding Partey's exclusion, stating that decisions concerning entry into the country fall under the jurisdiction of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). IRCC stated: “Canada has always maintained that hosting major events does not change its immigration laws.” “Each person wishing to come to Canada is subject to an individual assessment, based on the available facts and applicable legislation,” it added in a statement.
Partey faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in the UK, related to allegations made by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He denies the allegations.
