Inaki and Thomas-Asante dropped as Ghana calls up Königsdörffer for friendlies

Ghana’s national team, Black Stars, has suffered a double blow ahead of the upcoming international fixtures, with Iñaki Williams and Brandon Thomas-Asante both ruled out through injury.

In their place, Ransford Yeboah Königsdörffer has received a late call-up, giving the 22-year-old forward a chance to make a significant impact for the Black Stars.

Thomas-Asante sustained a knock during Coventry City FC’s 3-0 victory over Swansea City FC, forcing him off in the 62nd minute.

Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante (centre) celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea. Picture date: Saturday March 21, 2026. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)

Iñaki Williams played the full 90 minutes for Athletic Bilbao in their win over Real Betis, but post-match assessments confirmed he had picked up an injury that rules him out of the trip to Vienna.

The withdrawals leave a noticeable gap in Ghana’s attacking options, given the experience and influence both players bring to the national team setup.

Their absence has opened the door for Hamburger SV forward Königsdörffer, who now has a chance to stake his claim in the Black Stars setup.

The 22-year-old has endured a mixed 2025/26 campaign with Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga.

Season stats (2025/26 so far):

Games: 30
Goals: 5
Assists: 0
Minutes: 2,128

Despite modest overall numbers, his season has been defined by flashes of brilliance particularly a purple patch in February.

Ransford Koenigsdoerffer of Hamburger SV celebrates after Philipp Strompf of SSV Ulm 1846 (not pictured) scores a own goal during the Second Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 at Volksparkstadion on May 10, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Königsdörffer rediscovered form mid-February, scoring three goals in two matches, including a standout brace against Union Berlin that earned him Man of the Match honours.

However, his momentum has dipped in recent weeks, with performance ratings reflecting a decline across his last five appearances.

Still, his versatility remains a key asset. While often deployed on the wing, his most effective performances have come as a central striker where his pace and intelligent movement pose a greater threat.

Ransford Koenigsdoerffer and Miro Muheim of Hamburger SV celebrate after Philipp Strompf of SSV Ulm 1846 (not pictured) scores a own goal during the Second Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and SSV Ulm 1846 at Volksparkstadion on May 10, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

This call-up presents a crucial moment for Königsdörffer. With Ghana searching for attacking solutions amid injuries, he has a clear opportunity to impress and potentially cement his place in the squad moving forward.

For the Black Stars, the challenge now is adapting quickly to the absence of key forwards while hoping their latest addition can rise to the occasion when it matters most.