Athletic Bilbao star keen to kick Ghana on to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations

BILBAO, Spain — Following a World Cup where emotions ran high but the goals failed to flow, Inaki Williams is eager to help Ghana to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Williams, the son of Ghanaian parents who migrated to Spain before he was born, declared his sporting allegiance five months before the 2022 World Cup.

The Athletic Bilbao forward was unable to score in three group-stage games, as his side failed to advance to the knockout rounds in Qatar, making the tournament a bittersweet experience, as the excitement of representing Ghana was tempered by his performances.

However, Williams is confident that he will enjoy more success at Africa's biggest soccer tournament, which starts on Saturday in Cote d'Ivoire.

"I am heading into this tournament with a different outlook," the 29-year-old Williams told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Williams says he is more prepared and integrated into the team. Since the World Cup, he has played seven more games for Ghana between qualifiers and friendlies, and he scored his first and, so far, only international goal to earn a 1-0 win over Madagascar in a November qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.

"In Qatar, my teammates barely knew me, on or off the field," he said. "But now they know that I am a hard-working and easy-going teammate, and that I am here to help the team. The entire group has welcomed me with open arms."

Williams' younger brother Nico, who is also a forward with Athletic Bilbao, played for Spain at the World Cup.

They are both popular in their native Bilbao, where the team has fielded few black players because, traditionally, it only selects those from Spain's northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas.

Both Williams boys were born in the northern industrial city of Bilbao, where they have played for Athletic since their youth.

Their parents' story, however, is quite different.

The couple had to walk barefoot through the Sahara Desert during a long and perilous journey to seek a better life in Europe. Their mother was already pregnant by the time they arrived in Spain.

Inaki Williams played in a friendly for Spain in 2016. But, in 2022, with Spain no longer calling him, when Ghana showed interested, he decided to change allegiance.

His decision was influenced, in part, by a conversation with his grandfather, who encouraged him to join the "Black Stars".

"I know what it meant to him for me to play for Ghana," Inaki Williams said of his grandfather, who recently passed away. "I am very excited because I know that he will send down all his strength from heaven.

"I am going to fulfill the dream of many of my family members, who feel very proud of me," he said about playing at the tournament. "I don't know what emotions I am going to feel, but I am sure they will be intense."

Inaki Williams admits he was nervous to see how the Ghana fans would receive him, saying he was "a bit scared" after having played for Spain.

"Now they see that I am committed and that I have worked very hard during qualifying, and I feel just like any other member of the team," he said. "Everyone is showing confidence in me and my teammates are helping me a lot."

Ghana starts its tournament with a game against Cape Verde on Sunday. It will also play Mozambique and seven-time winner Egypt in Group B, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout rounds.

Inaki Williams said he is confident Ghana has what it takes to reach at least the quarterfinals, though he said Morocco is the tournament favorite after reaching the semifinals at the World Cup.

The game against Egypt on Jan 18 will pit Ghana's attack against that of Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah.

" (Salah) is one of the best forwards in the world and one of the top stars of the tournament," Inaki Williams said. "I am extremely motivated to play that game. We are a team with lots of talent and young players who are ready to stand out in the world of soccer."

Inaki Williams has been one of the fastest, most consistent and durable players in Spain over nearly a decade. He set a league record with 251 consecutive appearances that ran from April 2016 to Jan 2023.

He is having a strong season, scoring eight league goals, and credits the extra playing time with Ghana during international breaks for his stellar campaign with Athletic, which is fighting for a Europa League berth.

"Playing for the national team has been positive for me in many ways, both on a personal level and for my game. It is also beneficial for my performances with Athletic," he said.

Inaki Williams wants the upcoming competition to showcase the entire continent and change the image that many outsiders, including those in Spain, have of Africa.

"Africa is not just poverty, it is a continent with many great things to offer," he said.

"This Cup can help the West see that Cote d'Ivoire is a great place and that all of Africa continues to grow."

Agencies Via Xinhua