Arsenal legend praises Tariq Lamptey for choosing Ghana over England early

Premier League and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, has praised Tariq Lamptey for choosing to represent Ghana’s senior national team at an early age.

Lamptey was born in England to Ghanaian parents, and played for their youth national teams, but chose to play for the Black Stars in September 2022.

There has been some uproar recently among former African football stars regarding players born abroad who appear to treat their countries of origin as secondary options in international football.

The frustration stems from these players opting for African nations only when their prospects with their adopted countries have waned.

However, Tariq Lamptey stands out as an exception to this trend, having chosen to represent Ghana at the age of 22.

"You look at Tariq Lamptey, and he's a fantastic player, a fantastic right back. Maybe he's seeing his path to England is blocked,” Wright said on PL Stories.

“For me, I think that when you look at the player who kept him out of Chelsea, Reece James, and how good he is, you can understand why Lamptey might seek opportunities elsewhere.

“When you look at what Tariq has done…, he is someone who should be on that stage. If he can get that from Ghana, then he should take it.

“I think we’re probably going to see more of this trend, as me and Mikel were just saying. If you’re good enough, you shouldn’t be held back or waiting."

Tariq Lamptey has since racked up eight Black Stars appearances, including playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He is expected to feature in Ghana's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.