Ghana forward Inaki Williams has opened up on his journey with the Black Stars, claiming he is delighted to have made the switch last year.
The Athletic Bilbao star made his switch to Ghana from Spain in May 2022 before going ahead to feature against Brazil in an International friendly for his first appearance in September.
Though a key player for the La Liga club, Williams has gone 9 games without scoring and it’s expected to make his 10th appearance for Ghana on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the International friendly against Mexico in Charlotte on Saturday, the 29-year old said he enjoys playing for Ghana despite his goal drought.
Inaki Williams is hopeful of scoring his first goal for the Black Stars https://t.co/c36k4mH98s via YouTube
— 🇬🇭 Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) October 14, 2023
‘’It's a very important match. I think the Ghanaian people support us and I am going to do everything in this match to score my first goal’’ Inaki Williams said.
‘’It’s not been easy for me because I don’t have a lot of matches with my teammates but this is football. I enjoy football; I enjoy the games so I am going to do everything to score my first goal’’.
‘’Mexico have very hardworking people with good players. This match won’t be easy but Ghana has got very good players and we are going to fight to win the match’’ he added.
Inaki Williams' journey with the Black Stars
The forward's journey has been a bit tough and difficult. Inaki Williams barely made a mark in terms of goals and assists in well over 600 minutes.
After his debut against Brazil where he played 45 minutes, the forward played 86 minutes in the friendly win over Nicaragua and also played in the final pre-World Cup friendly game against Switzerland which Ghana won 2-0.
At the showpiece in Qatar, Williams started all three group games as the Black Stars crashed out in the group stages of the tournament.
His next three fixtures came in the AFCON Qualifiers against Angola (home and away) and the win over Central African Republic as Ghana picked up the qualifying ticket to next year's AFCON.
Following that qualification series, the World Cup qualifiers are coming next month and Williams will be keen to make his mark starting from these friendlies in preparation for the AFCON finals in January.
Black Stars' preparations
Ghana will play Mexico and USA in this FIFA International window.
The Mexico test for Chris Hughton's side is scheduled for a 9pm Kick Off (1am Ghana Time) at the Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
The Black Stars will later take on the United States of America on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
The aforementioned friendly games are part of preparations ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d'Ivoire next January.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars have been placed in a somewhat difficult group at the AFCON with former winners Egypt, Cape Verde and Mozambique in Group B.
Ghana were knocked out in the group stages of the last edition in Cameroon and the fans will be expecting an improved performance as they continue to search for their first AFCON title since 1982.
This article was most recently revised and updated 11 months ago
