Inaki Williams’ pivotal goal for Athletic Bilbao against Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night has ignited a heated online debate, with fans expressing concerns over the striker’s contrasting performances for his club and the Ghana national team.
Williams, who swiftly returned to Spain after Ghana’s early exit from AFCON, made an impactful return for Athletic Bilbao, scoring a crucial goal that propelled his team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. The 28-year-old received praise for his contributions at the club level, contrasting with the criticisms he faced during Ghana’s recent AFCON campaign.
Inaki Williams scores against Barcelona after Ghana’s AFCON exit#TV3GH pic.twitter.com/1Juvlp99kz
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 25, 2024
Inaki Williams traveled over 11 hrs from Abidjan to Bilbao only to score against Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/eD0NXkkK4n
— Fancy Di Maria (@FancyDiMaria_) January 25, 2024
Having played in all three games for the Black Stars, fans are bemused at Williams’ apparent struggles for the national team compared to his standout performances with Athletic Bilbao. Some attribute this disparity to the perceived poor structure of the national team, while others point to Williams’ potential unfamiliarity with African football.
Great footballer, wrong environment! https://t.co/5e72d7zMb9
— Lion Queen ???? (@delayghana) January 24, 2024
Inaki Williams would have performed exceptionally well for us in the AFCON if Thomas Partey was part of our team – Kelvin Owusu Ansah#TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/q8xciSrWT8
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) January 25, 2024
Never doubted Inaki Williams. Jordan Ayew is the fraud pic.twitter.com/7vOyYeQ0C7
— Dr Sneaker Nyame (@SneakerNyame_) January 25, 2024
Who is playing that pass? Who? pic.twitter.com/DeMxX2KSB9
— SITSO (@OfficialSitso) January 25, 2024
Inaki Williams proving why he’s probably never adjusting to the Black Stars system.
Scores on his return to Bilbao. Tidy finish
— Thierry Nyann ?? (@nyannthierry) January 25, 2024
Black Stars Failed Inaki Williams!!???♂️
pic.twitter.com/otBUsYzzof— Shadrack Amonoo Crabe ?? (@ShadrackAmonooC) January 25, 2024
What pains me the most is, Inaki Williams makes the same runs whenever he is on national team duty. Guess what??? ?? #AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/WuFI68xKtZ
— Bortey ?? (@joelbortey) January 24, 2024
Critics have also raised concerns about the telepathy within the Black Stars, highlighting the difficulty in finding Williams in spaces similar to those he enjoys in La Liga.
Fans are engaging in discussions on social media platforms, sharing diverse perspectives on the factors contributing to Williams’ contrasting performances for club and country.
As the online debate continues, fans are divided on whether the issue lies with the national team’s structure, Williams’ adaptation to African football, or other factors affecting the Black Stars’ cohesion.