Sampson Lamptey: How Hearts of Oak legend earned the nickname Gaddafi

Hearts of Oak legend, Sampson Lamptey, has opened up on why he was nicknamed after late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

During his active days as a player, Sampson Lamptey had a physique and hairstyle similar to the late Libyan leader.

Lamptey was a stalwart defender for both club and country and represented Ghana at two African Cup of Nations tournaments [1982 and 1984].

It was the 1982 AFCON that Ghana won, which saw Sampson Lamptey earn the nickname Gaddafi after his stellar performance for the Black Stars. Lamptey played in defence for the Black Stars as they beat Libya to win the 1982 AFCON title.

It was when Lamptey and his teammates were going for their medals that the Libyan supporters hailed him as Gaddafi, a name which has come to stay with him even after retiring from his career.

Making the revelation in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah, Lamptey said, “I got the name in Libya. After the final game, when we were going for our medals, the Libyan supporters started calling me Gaddafi and my teammates heard it and also started calling me Gaddafi.”

Sampson Lamptey played for the Ivorian club Africa Sports and Ghanaian giants, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.

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JNA/EK