Black Stars Coach Opens Up on Convincing Brighton Star Tariq Lamptey and Others to Play for Ghana

Black Stars Coach Opens Up on Convincing Brighton Star Tariq Lamptey and Others to Play for Ghana

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
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  • Otto Addo has opened up on how Ghana convinced a dozen of Europe-born players to play for the Black Stars
  • The Black Stars coach disclosed that the process was difficult as the players had to take time to make the decision
  • Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams and three Europe-born Ghanaians have opted to represent Ghana over their country of birth

Black Stars coach, Otto Addo, has revealed that it took a lot to convince Tariq Lamptey, Inaki Williams and three other Europe-born players to play for Ghana.

German-born trio Stephan Ambrosius, Patric Pfeiffer and Ransford-Yeboah-Konigsdorffer have all agreed to wear the Black Stars jersey internationally.

According to Otto Addo, who was speaking to BBC Sport, the process was a difficult one with players knowing it's a lifetime decision they are taking.

Otto Addo, Ghana, Tariq Lamptey, Black Stars
Otto Addo has opened up on how he convinced Tariq Lamptey and other Europe-born players to play for Ghana. Credit: @GhanaBlackstars Getty Images
Source: Twitter
"Since March we've been talking with a lot of players who we think can impact the team," Addo said as quoted by BBC Sports Africa.

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"It's a difficult decision, especially if you were born in another country, and you're young and have a choice to play for two nations because once you've played more than three matches, you can't change again.
"And this is not like the club stage where you can sign maybe for one to three years. And then after that, if things don't work, you can go to another club.
"It's a lifetime decision."

Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu, who was born in Ghana but decided to stay away from the team for a while, has also confirmed his decision to play for the Black Stars.

Otto Addo led Ghana to qualification to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after edging Nigeria in the play-offs.

Dortmund star Jude Bellingham describes Ghana coach Otto Addo as a legend

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Jude Bellingham, has described Ghana coach Otto Addo as a legend.

Bellingham and Otto Addo have been working together as the Yellow and Blacks prepare for the start of the German football season.

In a photo shared on his Instagram story, Bellingham was full of praise for the man who will lead Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.
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