Iñaki Williams, son of Ghanaian immigrants and electrifying forward for Athletic Bilbao, is eager to turn the page on a bittersweet World Cup experience and lead Ghana to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations, kicking off on Saturday in Ivory Coast.
The 29-year-old’s heart belonged to Ghana long before he donned the Black Stars jersey in 2022. Declaring his allegiance five months prior to the World Cup, Williams carried immense pride alongside the weight of expectation. However, his debut on the international stage didn’t translate to goals, as Ghana fell short in the group stage.
Undeterred, Williams arrives at the AFCON with renewed confidence and a deeper understanding of his team. Seven post-World Cup appearances and his maiden international goal, a match-winner against Madagascar, have fueled his hunger for success.
“This tournament feels different,” Williams declared in a recent interview. “I’m more integrated, my teammates know me better, and we’re united as a group.” He credits the warm welcome he received from the Black Stars, a stark contrast to the unfamiliar faces he encountered in Qatar.
The Bilbao native is no stranger to navigating dual identities. While his younger brother Nico chose Spain at the World Cup, both brothers remain beloved figures in their Basque Country home, where Black representation in Athletic Bilbao’s history is scarce.
Born in Bilbao, football has defined the Williams brothers’ lives, but their family’s journey is far from ordinary. Their parents’ path to Europe was treacherous, a perilous trek across the Sahara Desert for a better life. When they arrived in Spain, the mother was even pregnant. Seeking asylum, they followed the advice of a kind stranger, claiming to have fled a Liberian civil war.
Despite playing for Spain in a friendly in 2016, Ghana’s call beckoned Williams, and with Spain no longer in the picture, the switch allegiance felt natural. But it was a conversation with his late grandfather that solidified his decision.
“He dreamed of seeing me in the Black Stars jersey,” Williams shared, a hint of emotion in his voice. “This tournament is for him, for my family, and for everyone who believes in me. I don’t know what emotions await, but they’ll be powerful.”
As Ghana prepares to take the field, Iñaki Williams stands poised. With a World Cup experience under his belt and a newfound connection to his team, he is ready to lead the Black Stars on a deep run in Ivory Coast, determined to turn his personal narrative from bittersweet to triumphant.
