Black Stars defender Tariq Lamptey has expressed his eagerness to feature for Ghana in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2023, emphasizing his desire to win the tournament.
Having previously played for England’s youth teams, Tariq made his debut for the Ghanaian national team against Brazil in a friendly match leading up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking his first international competition for Ghana.
Ghana is on the brink of qualifying for the upcoming AFCON, set to be held in Ivory Coast next year.
Tariq who is yet to participate in an Afcon for Ghana believes that triumphing in his debut appearance would be a remarkable achievement.
In an interview Lamptey expressed his excitement about the prospects of playing in the AFCON, acknowledging the necessity of securing qualification and maintaining competitive form through league games.
“I am very excited [about the prospect of playing at the AFCON]. Obviously, there are a few steps before that — qualification first and league games. I have to play to get myself into a competitive form,” he said in the interview.
“But it’s an amazing competition and the ultimate goal will be to go and lift it. It will be amazing to play there and experience it and hopefully, we can do well.”
During the 2022 World Cup, Tariq, who currently plays for Brighton and Hove Albion, made two appearances for the Black Stars. He started the game against South Korea and also, came on as a substitute in the opening match against Portugal.