According to the 28-year-old Athletic Bilbao player, coming from Europe where the pitches were much better, it was difficult for him and most of his teammates to adjust to the turf in Ghana, but as a professional, his duty was to do his job without complaining.

Speaking during the post-match interview after his late goal handed the Black Stars a 1-0 win over Madagascar in their 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium last Friday, the Spanish-born Ghanaian international expressed his gratitude to the people of Kumasi for their overwhelming support.

Inaki scored his first goal for the Black Stars after 12 appearances, and he described the feeling as one of the best in his life because he had been looking forward to this day to score and make Ghanaians happy.

“The pitch is not easy for me and my teammates, because I play in Europe where the pitch is very good, but this is not an excuse for me. I am a professional, and I like to come here to help my teammates,” he said.

Inaki, who made 17 appearances for the Spanish under-21 side and scored three goals, also complained about the weather coming from Europe where the weather was very cold around this time and said it wasn’t easy adjusting to the local weather.

“The weather wasn’t easy for me when I came here; I am a professional, and I do everything here, I train here, and it’s not easy,” he noted.

The player, who was used as an attacking winger for the game last Friday instead of his traditional role as a striker for the Black Stars, was pleased with his role but said he was ready to play in any position the coach feels he should play because he was here to help his teammates.

“I prefer to play in every position because I like to play every minute; I play in my team as a winger and now in Ghana, I play as a striker. I enjoy the game because I came here to help my teammates and when I play, I am happy, and when I score a goal, I am very happy,” he noted.