Otto Addo Laments Iñaki Williams’ Injury as Black Stars Face World Cup Qualifiers Without Key Players
Ghana’s Black Stars head coach Otto Addo described the absence of Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams as a significant loss for the team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Central African Republic (CAR) on October 8, 2025, in Meknès, Morocco, and Comoros on October 12 in Accra. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Addo noted, “It’s always a loss when we have to replace players,” highlighting the impact of injuries to key squad members.
Williams, sidelined alongside centre-back Mohammed Salisu and winger Ernest Nuamah due to long-term injuries, leaves gaps in Ghana’s lineup as they aim to secure qualification. However, Addo expressed confidence in the squad’s depth, particularly praising Brandon Thomas-Asante, who has been in fine form with “many assists and goals” recently: “We’re in a lucky situation — we have a lot of good players. Brandon has been excellent… and he deserves to be here.”
Addo welcomed the return of Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Alidu Seidu, noting their contributions add competitive depth: “I’m praying for [the injured players] to get back. Surely, it will make my work difficult deciding who comes into the squad — but that’s what we want: competition for places.” With Ghana leading Group I with 19 points, a win against CAR could nearly guarantee a World Cup spot, though Addo remains cautious, emphasizing adaptability: “We can replace an experienced top player like Iñaki with a good player in form like Brandon Thomas.”
The coach’s comments reflect optimism despite setbacks, with the team’s recent training sessions in Casablanca showing sharpness ahead of the crucial CAR match. Social media buzz, including JoySports’ posts, underscores high expectations for the Black Stars to deliver under pressure.
