Tariq Lamptey has switched international allegiances from England to Ghana ahead of the 2022 World Cup later this year.
The Brighton and Hove Albion right-back has represented England at youth level, winning 20 caps for the Three Lions at various age groups. But he is among a number of players to register to play for Ghana with the World Cup fast approaching.
Lamptey recently withdrew from an England Under-21s squad after being approached by Ghana and has become one of five players to make themselves eligible for the country ahead of this year’s tournament. He qualifies to play for the Black Stars through his parents.
The other big name to Ghana is Athletic Club striker Inaki Williams, who has played once for Spain, represented them at youth level and also represented the Basque Country twice.
However, like Lamptey, he has registered to play for Ghana and with the announcement coming just four months before the World Cup begins, could find himself in contention to play at this year’s competition.
Also making themselves eligible for Ghana are Hamburg defender Stephan Ambrosius, Hamburg striker Ransford Yeboah and Darmstadt defender Pfeiffer.
Ghana find themselves in Group H of the competition in Qatar this winter, a group that pits them alongside Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea, one of the toughest groups on paper in the competition.
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They start the competition in Doha on November 24 against European side Portugal, who won the European Championships in 2016. They then take on South Korea on November 28 in Al Rayyan before completing their group campaign on December 2 against Uruguay.
Lamptey’s route for minutes at England will have been blocked the sheer quality of right-backs at Gareth Southgate’s disposal. Liverpool ’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Manchester City ’s Kyle Walker, Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier are currently the go-to senior options.
In the Under-21s set-up, the Young Lions also have Norwich City’s Max Aarons, West Ham United’s Ben Johnson and Middlesbrough’s Djed Spence competing for caps at youth level.
Lamptey has played 51 times for Brighton in all competitions since moving from Chelsea in January 2020, scoring once in the 2020/21 campaign for Graham Potter’s side.
Ghana’s current squad includes a number of Premier League players including Crystal Palace ’s Jordan Ayew, Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman and Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey.
