Black Stars striker Inaki Williams, riding high on his explosive form at Atletico Bilbao, is determined to contribute to Ghana’s success at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Having secured his debut goal for Ghana against Madagascar in November, the 29-year-old forward is part of coach Chris Hughton’s final AFCON squad.
With eleven goal-involvements in the Spanish La Liga this season, including eight goals and three assists, Williams arrived in Kumasi last Thursday to join the Black Stars camp. There are expectations that he will feature in the pre-AFCON friendly against Namibia.
Inaki, speaking ahead of the highly anticipated tournament, acknowledged the challenges posed by formidable opponents but emphasized the team’s commitment to making the country proud.
“Then we’ll see. Ghana is one of the countries with the most titles – four, the last in 1982 – and we know that we are one of the candidates, but it’s not easy. There are very powerful teams.”
“They have quality players and a coach who has made them shine in the World Cup, and they are in a moment of high confidence. Then there are Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt…, but in African football, anything could happen. Hopefully, we can perform well, and our people feel proud,” he expressed.
Recognizing the quality of competitors like Nigeria, Senegal, and Egypt, Inaki highlighted the unpredictable nature of African football. He expressed hope that the team can deliver a strong performance, saying, “Hopefully, we can perform well, and our people feel proud.”
Ghana, placed in Group B alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique, will kickstart their AFCON campaign against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde on January 14 in Abidjan.
