Inaki Williams Shares Touching Goodbye with His Parents Before 2026 WCQ Trip to Chad
- Iñaki Williams’ journey with the Black Stars to N'Djamena carried a warm touch of family love, as his parents were right by his side
- His parents’ sacrifices paved the way for Iñaki and his younger brother to enjoy the life they live today
- The 29-year-old is tipped to play a key role in Ghana’s quest for victory against Chad in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Ghana’s top stories, now easier to find. Discover our new search feature!
Inaki Williams carried a piece of his family’s love with him as he set off with the Black Stars for Ghana’s World Cup qualifier against Chad.
At the Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday, the Athletic Club captain shared a brief yet touching moment with his father, Felix Williams.
Source: Twitter
Inaki Williams shares touching farewell with his family
In a video shared by sports blogger officialmeatpie18, the 29-year-old forward embraced his dad, who could not hide his joy.
Inaki then moved on to his mother, Maria, sharing another warm hug before greeting others and exchanging a handshake with a supporter.
Watch Inaki's moment with his family:
The bond between Williams and his parents runs deep. He has often spoken about the sacrifices they made in search of a better life.
Their story is one of grit and pain — they crossed the Sahara Desert barefoot, leaving scars on his father’s feet, as cited by the BBC.
After managing to secure asylum in Spain, they worked tirelessly, even taking jobs in Chelsea, before raising Inaki and his younger brother Nico.
Through football, the two sons have been able to reward their parents’ determination with the kind of life they had long dreamed of.
Source: Twitter
For Inaki, moments like the airport farewell are more than sentimental. They are reminders of his roots and, perhaps, a charm of good fortune as Ghana pushes for another step toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Black Stars land in N’Djamena ahead of Chad game
The forward will be hoping to replicate his performance from March, when he scored in Ghana’s 5-0 demolition of Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium.
See a video of Inaki scoring against Chad below:
Yet his record for the national team tells a tougher story. According to Transfermarkt, he has only two goals in 23 appearances, averaging a strike every 11.5 games.
The Chad encounter offers him another chance to improve those numbers.
Meanwhile, Inaki and his teammates have safely touched down in N’Djamena.
The Black Stars, led by skipper Jordan Ayew, arrived late on Tuesday evening and headed straight to their hotel to settle in.
Photos shared online captured the players stepping off the plane before making their way to their base.
See the photos below:
Preparations continue with a mandatory training session scheduled for Wednesday at the match venue. Head coach Otto Addo will also address the media in a press conference.
Later in the day, the squad will return to the pitch for their final practice, fine-tuning tactics and making last-minute adjustments ahead of Thursday’s decisive showdown with Les Sao.
Inaki reflects on becoming first black captain at Athletic Club
In an earlier report, YEN.com.gh revealed that Iñaki Williams has etched his name in history as Athletic Club’s first-ever black captain.
During his press conference, Williams emphasised the significance of visibility and identity, expressing deep pride in representing immigrant families across Spain.
Source: YEN.com.gh
