Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams is set to make
a second full debut at international level with Ghana after playing for Spain's
national team six years ago.
Williams, 28, first made his international debut back
in 2016, playing 30 minutes in a friendly against Bosnia. He was also a regular
in the Spanish youth international sides, making 17 appearances for their U-21
team and scoring three goals.
Williams was allowed to switch his allegiance per FIFA
rules because the match he played was only a friendly.
After years of being courted by the Ghana Football
Association, Williams in July this year confirmed that he had switched
allegiances in search of "my origins within myself and with Africa and
Ghana which means so much to me and my family".
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In a video released on his Twitter account Williams
said: “Every step we take forward has its own meaning. An evolution. A glance
into the future which leaves a trace itself. A legacy. My parents have raised
me with values based on humility, respect and love.
“They have taught me to embrace life. In that constant
quest to continue growing and working upon the pursuit of evolving personally
and professionally as an individual.
“That's why I feel the moment has come for me to find
my origins within myself and with Africa and Ghana which means so much to me
and my family. I want to return a small part of everything it has given to us
because Ghana has played a significant part of becoming who I am as a person,
as a son and as a brother.”
“Today a new challenge begins. From now on, I will
defend Ghana's T-shirt with all my will whilst I give my best. I'm one of the
Black Stars.”
He was handed his debut call-up today by Black Stars
coach Otto Addo today for friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua ahead of the
2022 FIFA World Cup.
Williams was born to Ghanaian parents who emigrated
across the Sahara Desert to reach Spain and ended up raising Inaki and his
brother Nico in the Basque country.
He is one of five players who have completed
nationality switched to represent Ghana ahead of the World Cup. The rest are;
Tariq Lamptey, Stephan Ambrosius, Patrick Pfeffer and Ransford Yeboah.