Henry Asante Twum has applauded Black Stars forward Inaki Williams for his pivotal role in Athletic Bilbao’s historic Copa del Rey victory, ending a 40-year wait for the prestigious trophy.
Athletic Bilbao, led by Inaki Williams and his brother Nico, secured the Copa del Rey title in a thrilling final against Mallorca at the Estadio OlÃmpico de Sevilla.
Facing an early setback with Mallorca taking the lead, Athletic Bilbao displayed resilience, equalizing through Oihan Sancet in the second half to force extra time.
In a tense penalty shootout, Athletic Bilbao maintained composure, emerging triumphant with a 4-2 scoreline, securing their first Copa del Rey triumph since 1984.
🇬🇠Iñaki Williams during the penalty shootout of the Copa Del Rey final 🥺pic.twitter.com/WkrBeGkQ6P
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) April 7, 2024
Asante Twum, the communications director of the Ghana Football Association praised Inaki Williams for his contribution to Athletic Bilbao’s success, highlighting the significance of the victory for his confidence and mental well-being, and expressing hope that he can carry this form into the Black Stars’ upcoming fixtures.
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“I’m pleased for Inaki Williams, who won his first trophy with Athletic Bilbao over the weekend. It’s great for his self-confidence and mental health, and hopefully he can carry that over to the Black Stars,” he told Akoma FM.
He is also confident the arrival of key players for the next matches will make Black Stars stronger and eventually bounce back from their poor form.
“We should have all of our players fully fit by the time the season ends, so I’m confident that we will be in a strong position to compete very soon,” Twum affirmed highlighting the importance of key players such as Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey.
“Kudus, Thomas, Amartey, Djiku, Gideon Mensah, and all of our key players are fit [should be] fit and healthy.
Inaki’s impressive performances throughout the Copa del Rey, with two goals and two assists in five games, underscore his importance to the team’s success. His brother, Nico Williams, also made significant contributions, scoring three goals and providing five assists during the tournament.
With Ghana preparing for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic, Inaki’s form is poised to bolster the Black Stars’ efforts to secure qualification from Group H. Despite being fourth in the table after the first two rounds, Ghana remains determined to secure a spot in the next World Cup without complications.