Iñaki Williams and Brandon Thomas‑Asante Withdraw from Black Stars Squad

The Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, has suffered a setback ahead of their upcoming international friendlies against Austria and Germany, as forwards Iñaki Williams and Brandon Thomas‑Asante have officially pulled out of the squad due to injuries.

Williams, who plays for Athletic Bilbao in Spain’s top flight, sustained a knock during his team’s recent victory over Real Betis. Despite completing the full match, medical examinations revealed that he would be unfit to participate in the friendlies, ruling him out of the upcoming fixtures.

Similarly, Thomas‑Asante, representing Coventry City in England, was substituted in the 62nd minute during his side’s 3–0 win over Swansea City after picking up an injury. Subsequent scans confirmed that he would be unable to join the Black Stars camp.

The Black Stars’ head coach, Otto Addo, has already begun preparations in Vienna with 21 players present for initial training sessions. To fill the void left by the two forwards, the technical team has called up 22‑year-old German‑based striker Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer from Hamburger SV. Königsdörffer has been in excellent form this season and brings fresh attacking options to the squad.

While the withdrawals of Williams and Thomas‑Asante are a blow, the inclusion of Königsdörffer ensures that coach Addo still has versatile attacking options. The friendlies against Austria and Germany are crucial opportunities to test tactics, build team chemistry, and evaluate players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Fans of the Black Stars will be hoping for speedy recoveries for Williams and Thomas‑Asante, as Ghana looks to field a strong team in Europe. Meanwhile, the squad continues its training camp in Vienna, preparing for matches that will provide valuable international experience and insight into the team’s readiness for competitive fixtures.

Source: Thepressradio.com