-Tariq Lamptey has completed a nationality switch from his country of birth, England to Ghana.
-The Ghana Football Association, has finalized discussions with Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey to feature for the Black Stars even before the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar following his arrival in Ghana last week.
Sports World Ghana can exclusively report that the leadership of the Ghana Football Association have had fruitful discussions with the talented right-back cum winger and his family and would be named in coach Otto Addo’s next squad in September for the Afcon qualifiers double-header tie against Angola.
The marauding wing-back has been on the wishlist of the Ghana Football Association and the news of his nationality switch will be warmly received with the AFCON qualifiers on the horizon.
Lamptey has represented England at the youth level and recently received a call-up to the England U21 in March but is still eligible to play for the Black Stars and if the account of coach Freddie is anything to go by then the Brighton defender will be committing his future to the West African nation.
England’s U-21 manager Lee Carsley confirmed during a press conference recently that the right-back has asked to be left out of the squad after being approached by Ghana.
“There’s an issue over his dual nationality. He’s had an approach. It’s something he’s considering at the minute,” Carsley said, as quoted by the Sun.
“He’s asked to be left out of the squad for a bit of head space. He’s not switched, it’s not cemented or anything like that.
“But he’s had an approach (from Ghana), we have to respect that. We’ve made it clear how important we see him to us. I know the seniors have as well. It’s not something that we’ve given up on. Tariq is fully aware of how important we see him.”
Lamptey was born in London but has Ghanaian roots and is eligible to play for Ghana, having never been capped by England at senior level.
Meanwhile, Ghana FA President Kurt Okraku confirmed on Sunday 5th June, 2022 via Facebook post that Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu will finally play for Black Stars.
“Great seeing you with that big smile…Proud son of the land who is proud to give back what football has given him…Ready to serve and looking forward to our common future with all the positive energy in you. God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong,” Okraku wrote on Facebook.
Salisu was first called up by former coach Kwasi Appiah in November 2019 for the start of the 2021 Afcon qualifiers, but the then-Real Valladolid player failed to show up citing a rib injury.
CK Akonnor, who replaced Kwasi Appiah as Black Stars head coach a few months later, was also unsuccessful in his pursuit of the player.
The 23- year old is currently one of the best defenders in the English Premier League and his addition to the Black Stars squad would only bolster Ghana’s team for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup in November.
