by Silas Boahene | Sep 26, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghana striker Iñaki Williams has expressed his strong desire to spend his entire career at Athletic Bilbao, aiming to be a one-club man. Williams, who was born in the Basque Country to Ghanaian parents, joined the club at the age of 20 from Basconia.
Having progressed through the club’s youth ranks, he is now the vice-captain of the first team and hopes to continue his professional journey at Athletic. The 30-year-old forward has made over 400 first-team appearances, including an impressive La Liga record of 251 consecutive matches.
Williams has also played a crucial role in the club’s recent successes, scoring the winning goal in the 2020–21 Supercopa de España and contributing to Athletic’s first Copa del Rey title in 40 years during the 2023–24 season.
“I would like to be a one-club man and spend my entire career at Athletic. It would be a source of pride for me,” he told AS.
Interestingly, Williams received his Basque first name in honor of a Caritas volunteer in Bilbao who helped his parents upon their arrival in Spain. His family had been advised by a lawyer to claim to be from Liberia, a country engulfed in civil war, when they first entered Spain.
His younger brother, Nico, is also a footballer and plays as a forward, having been raised in the Athletic Bilbao system as well.
by Silas Boahene | Sep 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has called on Black Stars players to exhibit greater commitment while representing the national team. His remarks come in response to increasing concerns from Ghanaians regarding the team’s disappointing performance, particularly following their inability to secure a win in their first two matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.
“Players who come to the national team have to be committed. I am not seeing that. They must realize that out of a population of over 30 million, they are part of a select 23. It is an honor to represent Ghana, and they need to make it worthwhile,” Appiah stated.
Addressing the Parliamentary Select Committee for Sports, Appiah discussed the broader issue of underperformance across various sports disciplines in the country and expressed frustration over the lack of visible commitment from players in recent years.
“For the past five years, we have been struggling; we are not seeing that level of commitment. You can be a good captain, but that doesn’t guarantee victories. It is only when you and your teammates share the same goal that success follows,” he added.
Ghana recently dropped six places to 70th in the FIFA rankings and is set to face Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan in October, with the venue for the match still uncertain after CAF revoked approval of the Baba Yara Stadium.
by Silas Boahene | Sep 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Seth Panwum, Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has confirmed that both the Accra and Cape Coast stadiums are fully prepared to host the upcoming match between Ghana and Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
While an official venue for the matchday three fixture has not yet been confirmed, following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to ban the Baba Yara Stadium due to its unplayable condition, Panwum expressed confidence in the alternative options available.
Despite speculation that the game might be moved to Ivory Coast, Panwum stated that both Cape Coast and Accra stadiums are in excellent shape to accommodate the match. He remarked, “Cape Coast is ready, Accra is ready. We invite CAF’s officials to inspect the facilities. As things stand, we are ready, and I can assure you that if they conduct their inspections, the match will take place in Ghana.”
The Black Stars are scheduled to regroup for their doubleheader against Sudan next month.
by Silas Boahene | Sep 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Other Sports, Soccer
Seth Panwum, Chairman of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Board, has labeled Ghana’s “stadium situation” as unfortunate, particularly following the closure of several stadiums due to poor facility conditions. His comments came during a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on Sports, Culture, and Tourism.
This hearing follows a previous session where Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif discussed the controversial three million dollars spent by Ghana’s contingent at the 2023 AFCON in CĂ´te d’Ivoire, despite the team failing to progress beyond the group stage.
Panwum addressed concerns regarding the Baba Yara Stadium, stating that the NSA officer responsible for renting out the facility for a church event prior to Ghana’s match against Angola is currently facing internal disciplinary action. The event resulted in significant damage to the pitch, leading to numerous complaints from both the Black Stars head coach Otto Addo and Angola’s head coach Pedro Goncalves, ultimately resulting in a ban from CAF.
He explained, “CAF has indicated that we need to undertake major work on the pitch, which we have acknowledged and are currently addressing. If they return to inspect the work we’ve done, they may grant us permission to use the stadium for future games. However, according to their regulations, we need to allow them some time before we can request a reassessment of the pitch. I must say that it’s unfortunate we got to this point.”
Panwum’s remarks highlight the ongoing challenges facing Ghanaian football infrastructure and the repercussions of mismanagement.
by Silas Boahene | Sep 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Former Black Stars player Derek Boateng has made a strong statement regarding the Ghana Football Association (GFA), accusing them of focusing solely on financial gain rather than the welfare of footballers.
In an interview, Boateng’s remarks come as Ghana approaches its 2025 AFCON qualifier against Sudan in October, with no official venue confirmed due to the lack of a CAF-approved stadium in the country. The Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi was Ghana’s last remaining approved venue, but CAF withdrew its approval after Ghana’s 1-0 loss to Angola there in September.
Boateng expressed frustration over the poor playing conditions faced by Black Stars players, criticizing the GFA for its lack of action. He stated, “The FA needs to wake up and do something because this is their job; to ensure that all fields are good for the players to play. The only thing they care about…is money. We have players playing in Europe on good fields. They come here to play on a s*** field, and you expect them to perform well and win games.”
He further emphasized that if the team struggles to secure victories, the GFA should not place the blame on the players. “If the win isn’t coming, then it will be a problem. If the FA cares about football, they have to ensure that these issues are addressed before the players arrive. They cannot pressure the players for their performance when the conditions are subpar; it’s their responsibility.”
Boateng, who has played for clubs like Getafe in Spain and Panathinaikos in Greece, is currently a scout at Right To Dream and represented Ghana at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
