Charles Taylor has stirred controversy with his opinion on the potential inclusion of Richmond Lamptey in the Black Stars squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, advocating firmly for Lamptey's selection based on his outstanding performance in the current Ghana Premier League season.
Taylor asserts that Lamptey outshines regular Black Stars midfielders Baba Iddrisu and Edmund Addo.
While Baba Iddrisu has been a consistent presence in recent years, owing to his sustained excellence in the Spanish La Liga, Edmund Addo gained recognition for his performances in Moldova with FC Sheriff and currently plies his trade in the Serbian league with Red Star Belgrade.
Speaking on Angel TV, Taylor clarified his stance on Lamptey's potential inclusion, stating, "His footballing skills are a bit different from what we have now, and that’s why I believe that he’s ahead of the pack. I believe he can get a position in the Black Stars because any coach who is determined to win something will like him."
Taylor emphasized Lamptey's superiority, highlighting his unique ball-carrying and passing abilities, stating, "I believe he is far ahead of Baba Iddrisu and Edmund Addo because of his ball-carrying and passing abilities. He has a way of finding strikers with the ball and making them enjoy his play."
In justifying his position, Taylor praised Lamptey's playing style and ability to connect with strikers, expressing optimism about Lamptey's compatibility with the Black Stars players, noting, "There are some players in the Ghana Premier League who play like those abroad. He can play with the Black Stars players. We’ve been complaining about the quality of midfielders, and now we have been lucky to find a player in the Ghana Premier League."
As the deadline for the final squad announcement approaches, Black Stars coach Chris Hughton has already submitted the provisional squad for the tournament scheduled for January 13, 2024. The final squad is expected to be revealed by January 3, with Lamptey and other hopefuls eagerly anticipating the possibility of an invitation.
