Athletic Bilbao's manager, Ernesto Valverde, has confirmed that Ghanaian forward Inaki Williams will miss the Black Stars’ last two matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers due to a hamstring injury. Williams, 30, sustained the injury in his left hamstring, which also forced him to sit out Bilbao’s recent 1-1 draw against Real Valladolid.
The absence of Williams is a setback for Ghana’s squad, as he had been included in their 25-man lineup for these decisive fixtures against Angola and Niger. Despite the importance of these games, Valverde expressed doubt about Williams' availability, noting, “I don’t think he’ll be able to play this time because he hasn’t been able to be here with us.”
The Black Stars are gearing up for these critical matches, will preparations kicking off today in Accra. Ghana’s squad will hold their first training session at 17:00 GMT at the Accra Sports Stadium, which is open to fans for a chance to support the players before they head to Luanda. While Monday's session will be open, Tuesday’s will be held privately as the team refines strategies for the upcoming clashes.
Coach Otto Addo and his team are determined to turn around their performance and improve their standing in Group F, where they currently sit third with two points from four games, trailing Angola and Sudan. Ghana’s shaky start to the qualifiers has added extra pressure on these last two matches, making every game crucial for their bid to secure a spot in the tournament in Morocco.
The Black Stars will take on Angola on November 15 at Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, and then return to Accra to face Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18. With Williams out of the lineup, Addo will need to rely on other attackers to step up and fill the void in these must-win games.
The team’s resilience and unity will be tested as they aim to overcome the rocky start to their AFCON campaign. A positive outcome in these matches would boost Ghana’s chances of reaching the 2025 AFCON tournament, fulfilling the hopes of fans eager to see the Black Stars shine on the continental stage once again.
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