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Inaki Williams Announces Retirement from Ghana National Team
On a quiet morning in Bilbao, Inaki Williams, the 32‑year‑old forward who has led Athletic Bilbao’s attack for more than five hundred games, chose to hang up his international boots. The former Black Stars captain made the decision public on his social‑media channels on 11 September 2026, after a four‑year stint that earned him 28 caps and two goals.
Williams first donned the Ghana jersey in September 2022, after switching allegiance from Spain where he had represented the country at youth level and appeared in a senior friendly in 2016. He was an integral part of Ghana’s squads at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 2026 tournament, he appeared in two matches before the Black Stars bowed out in the last‑32 round to Colombia.
In his announcement, Williams said, “I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end. I leave happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.” He added that representing Ghana had given him more than football, allowing him to connect with his roots and experience the pride of wearing the national flag.
Born in Bilbao to Ghanaian parents, Williams grew up in the club’s famed academy. He has set a La Liga record of 251 consecutive matches and scored the winning goal in the 2020‑21 Supercopa de España. His younger brother, Nico, also plays for Athletic Bilbao but represents Spain internationally, having won a World Cup and European Championship with La Roja.
The retirement comes a week after the Ghana Football Association confirmed that former national team coach Carlos Queiroz will return to the helm. Queiroz, who guided Ghana to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, signed a new contract to steer the side through the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. In a statement, Queiroz said, “It has allowed me to come back home, feel even closer to my roots and experience the enormous pride of representing my country and wearing this flag on my chest.”
Ghana’s 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, a first for the tournament. Matches will take place in Nairobi, Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, Dodoma, Kampala, Kisumu and other East African venues. The competition is scheduled for mid‑2027, with qualifiers already underway.
Williams’ decision leaves the national team at a pivotal moment as it seeks to rebuild for the upcoming qualifiers and the 2027 AFCON. The squad will rely on a mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans to fill the void his departure creates. The Ghana Football Association has not yet named a replacement for his role in the squad.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a four‑year chapter in which Williams earned 28 caps and scored twice, contributing to Ghana’s campaigns in major tournaments such as the 2023 AFCON and the 2026 World Cup. As the team moves forward under Queiroz’s renewed leadership, the focus will shift to forging a cohesive unit capable of competing on the continent’s biggest stages.
Beyond the Black Stars, Williams’ retirement underscores a broader trend of players balancing club commitments with national team responsibilities. His long tenure at Athletic Bilbao and international experience illustrate the challenges athletes face when deciding to step away from international duty while continuing to play at the highest level of club football.
In sum, Inaki Williams has chosen to end his international career with Ghana after a series of appearances in major tournaments. The national team will now look to new and existing players to carry forward the legacy of the Black Stars under Carlos Queiroz’s guidance as they prepare for the 2027 AFCON and other upcoming fixtures.
Williams first donned the Ghana jersey in September 2022, after switching allegiance from Spain where he had represented the country at youth level and appeared in a senior friendly in 2016. He was an integral part of Ghana’s squads at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 2026 tournament, he appeared in two matches before the Black Stars bowed out in the last‑32 round to Colombia.
In his announcement, Williams said, “I feel the time has come to bring my journey with the Ghana national team to an end. I leave happy, proud and with the peace of mind of knowing that I gave everything every time I wore this shirt.” He added that representing Ghana had given him more than football, allowing him to connect with his roots and experience the pride of wearing the national flag.
Born in Bilbao to Ghanaian parents, Williams grew up in the club’s famed academy. He has set a La Liga record of 251 consecutive matches and scored the winning goal in the 2020‑21 Supercopa de España. His younger brother, Nico, also plays for Athletic Bilbao but represents Spain internationally, having won a World Cup and European Championship with La Roja.
The retirement comes a week after the Ghana Football Association confirmed that former national team coach Carlos Queiroz will return to the helm. Queiroz, who guided Ghana to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, signed a new contract to steer the side through the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. In a statement, Queiroz said, “It has allowed me to come back home, feel even closer to my roots and experience the enormous pride of representing my country and wearing this flag on my chest.”
Ghana’s 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, a first for the tournament. Matches will take place in Nairobi, Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, Dodoma, Kampala, Kisumu and other East African venues. The competition is scheduled for mid‑2027, with qualifiers already underway.
Williams’ decision leaves the national team at a pivotal moment as it seeks to rebuild for the upcoming qualifiers and the 2027 AFCON. The squad will rely on a mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans to fill the void his departure creates. The Ghana Football Association has not yet named a replacement for his role in the squad.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a four‑year chapter in which Williams earned 28 caps and scored twice, contributing to Ghana’s campaigns in major tournaments such as the 2023 AFCON and the 2026 World Cup. As the team moves forward under Queiroz’s renewed leadership, the focus will shift to forging a cohesive unit capable of competing on the continent’s biggest stages.
Beyond the Black Stars, Williams’ retirement underscores a broader trend of players balancing club commitments with national team responsibilities. His long tenure at Athletic Bilbao and international experience illustrate the challenges athletes face when deciding to step away from international duty while continuing to play at the highest level of club football.
In sum, Inaki Williams has chosen to end his international career with Ghana after a series of appearances in major tournaments. The national team will now look to new and existing players to carry forward the legacy of the Black Stars under Carlos Queiroz’s guidance as they prepare for the 2027 AFCON and other upcoming fixtures.
