Brighton and Hove Albion manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has expressed his disapproval of Ghana coach Chris Hughton’s decision to include the injured Tariq Lamptey in the 55-man provisional squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted in Ivory Coast.
During a press conference on Wednesday before Brighton’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, De Zerbi emphasized Lamptey’s unavailability due to injury and questioned Hughton’s awareness of the player’s status. The Italian manager pointed out that including Lamptey, who is currently nursing an injury, in the provisional squad for the tournament seemed to indicate a lack of attention to the Premier League.
“He (Tariq Lamptey) is not available to play with us, so how will he play with the Ghana national team?” De Zerbi stated, expressing his disbelief at Hughton’s decision.
De Zerbi went on to suggest that it appeared Hughton may not be closely following the Premier League, implying that such oversight led to the inclusion of an injured player in the national team’s provisional squad.
Chris Hughton is set to unveil Ghana’s final 27-man squad for the AFCON tournament on January 3. Ghana, aiming for their fifth continental title, has been placed in Group B alongside Cape Verde, Egypt, and Mozambique. The Black Stars will kick off their campaign against Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024, followed by matches against Egypt and Mozambique on January 18 and January 22, respectively.
The 34th edition of AFCON is scheduled to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024.