{"id":1143203,"date":"2022-07-06T14:02:14","date_gmt":"2022-07-06T14:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/07\/06\/i-will-defend-ghanas-jersey\/"},"modified":"2022-07-06T14:02:14","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T14:02:14","slug":"i-will-defend-ghanas-jersey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/07\/06\/i-will-defend-ghanas-jersey\/","title":{"rendered":"I will defend Ghana’s jersey"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Inaki
Inaki Williams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Inaki Williams has confirmed his decision to play for the Ghana national team, the Black Stars in a video released on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n

In the video posted on Twitter, the Athletic Bilbao striker said, \u201cI will defend Ghana\u2019s T-shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams was born in Spain to Ghanaian immigrants and said last year that he\u00a0feels more Spanish, despite his love for Ghana.<\/p>\n

However, Williams is now in favour of donning the Ghana colours.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEvery step we take forward has its own meaning. An evolution. A glance into the future which leaves a trace itself. A legacy. My parents have raised me with values based on humility, respect, and love,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have taught me to embrace life. In that constant quest to continue growing and working upon the pursuit of evolving personally and professionally as an individual.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I feel the moment has come for me to find my origins within myself and with Africa and Ghana which means so much to me and my family. I want to return a small part of everything it has given to us because Ghana has played a significant part of becoming who I am as a person, as a son, and as a brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday a new challenge begins. From now on, I will defend Ghana\u2019s T-shirt with all my will whilst I give my best. I\u2019m one of the Black Stars.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I\u00f1aki earlier expressed reservations about switching nationalities for Ghana in an interview last year, saying, \u201cMy parents are from Accra, and I really enjoy going.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I wasn\u2019t born or raised there, my culture is here, and there are players who would mean more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it would be right to take the place of someone who really deserves to go and feels Ghana 100%,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Williams\u00a0was in Ghana in June with his younger brother Nico Williams, who also plays for Bilbao.<\/p>\n

Nico is a member of Spain\u2019s U-21 team, but GFA is hopeful that he will join the Black Stars in the future.<\/p>\n

Inaki, 27, committed to Spain and played in one friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016. Before that, he played for Spain\u2019s U-21 team, scoring three goals in 17 games.<\/p>\n

Williams now has the LaLiga record for most consecutive appearances (233) after breaking the previous mark of 202 in October.<\/p>\n

The move gives Ghana a boost ahead of this year\u2019s World Cup in Qatar, where they are grouped with Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea in Group H. The tournament begins on November 21.<\/p>\n

Inaki is also available for selection in the doubleheader of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers against Angola in September.<\/p>\n

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