Ghana ambition to SECURE Tariq Lamptey appears a difficult task following England U-21 call-up
Tariq Lamptey has sparked tug-of-war between England and Ghana FAs about who he wants to play for.
Ghana meanwhile has been led by England in race of Tariq Lamptey national football allegiance and the sound obviously good after England somehow investing much in the player’s development.
Ghana will face Nigeria at Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium for World Cup playoff first leg but will be without Tariq Lamptey- a player they have heavily planned to invite for that crucial fight for a place in Qatar 2022.
Lamptey has returned to national team football after being handed invitation to England U-21 side as they take on Andorra and Albania in U-21 European Championship Qualifiers. England first host Andorra next week Friday before traveling to Albanian on 29th March with Lamptey expected to get a place in Lee Carsley’s starting lineup.
Lamptey’s latest England call-up comes as blow for Ghana who have been working hard to secure the 21-year old to the Black Stars. Ghana Football Association officials have began talks with the player and his parents about the move to Black Stars but nothing has materialized.
After battling well in group stages of the African World Cup Qualifiers, Ghana were understood to give Lamptey a call-up for its playoff against Super Green Eagles of Nigeria but the move was outsmart by England who have occupied Lamptey at the same WC playoff dates.
Ghana may not give up on the Brighton youngster with hopes of a future call-up to Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in the pipeline, only when they are able to beat Nigeria in the playoff round.
However, Ghana’s pushing to bring Lamptey to Black Stars appears difficult than expected following the progression in England call-ups. Lamptey was first called-up to the U-18 side and have eventually passed through all the youth ranks where his latest call-up on Friday is vital to England U-21 side.
Since his U18 invitation, he has never skipped any of the levels, and by this, it’s understood that the next call-up could earn him at the U23 followed by a call-up into the Three Lions.
His allegiance at England youth levels has been a difficult mantle for Ghana and progression into the Three Lions will finally put Black Stars call-up hopes on a permanent sideline.
While he has not feature for the Three Lions yet, he has already hinted the desire to play at that level although reports have indicated that Lamptey may also want to play for Ghana at Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Lamptey’s Black Stars hopes were further dent after the player openly stating his desire to wait for Three Lions to make him an International player.
“On the international side I have to see what happens, because at the moment, I’m playing for England U21s, Lampety said in January 2021.
“My main focus is just playing for Brighton and making sure that I’m improving each game, developing well and playing as many games as possible.
“If I work hard enough, and I keep believing myself, hopefully I’ll keep getting noticed, and we’ll see what happens.”
Should Lamptey gets Three Lions call-up, he faces stiff competition in his position with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea right-back Reece James and Kieron Trippier all in the mix-up for Gareth Southgate.
It’s understood that his height- 5ft 5in frame will play him on the disadvantaged position but the former Chelsea starlet insists size is no barrier to success in the game.
Speaking to talkSPORT in 2021 he added: “Football is not a game of how tall you are, how strong you are.
‘It is about if you have the ability, and you work hard and you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything.
“I definitely don’t let my size hold me back. If anything, I think I use it to my advantage.
“I look forward to having the battles on the pitch I look, I look forward to going into each game and trying to get the better of whoever I am playing up against so I always enjoy the challenges.
“I feel like whatever height you are, however tall you are, it shouldn’t hold you back as long as you can play football and you have the desire to play.”
