Ghana’s narrow 1-0 victory over Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers was a night of mixed emotions for Inaki Williams.

The Athletic Bilbao forward, who had started on the bench following his below-par outing against Chad, was introduced in the second half alongside Kamaldeen Sulemana and Joseph Paintsil as Otto Addo looked to inject pace and creativity into the Black Stars’ attack.

But with the game edging toward its final moments, frustration boiled over. Ghana launched a counterattack, and Sulemana surged forward with the ball, with Inaki sprinting into space on the opposite flank. The move promised a golden opportunity to kill off the game, yet the Southampton winger ignored his teammate’s clever run and opted for a speculative shot. His effort sailed wide, wasting the chance and drawing a visibly angry reaction from Inaki, who threw his hands up in disbelief.

Despite the miscommunication, Ghana held on for the vital three points, moving top of Group I with 19 points after eight games. Madagascar trail with 16, Comoros with 15, while Mali’s loss leaves them fourth with 12 points. The Black Stars now stand in pole position to seal automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.