Maria Williams, the mother of Nico Williams, a Spanish-born Ghanaian, was brought to tears after her son became a European Champion with Spain on Sunday, July 14, 2024.
Maria attended the 2024 Euros final in Berlin, Germany, where she witnessed her son score and inspire Spain to a 2-1 victory over England in the final, earning the man-of-the-match award.
In a video sighted by GhanaWeb Sports, Nico ran to his mother in the stands immediately after the game to embrace her. Maria couldn’t contain her emotions and broke down in tears during this heartfelt moment.
Nico Williams was born in Spain after his parents sought asylum using Liberian names instead of Ghanaian, following their detention in the Spanish enclave of Melilla in North Africa. Their journey from Ghana to the UK through the Sahara Desert took an unexpected turn, leading to their arrest.
In a previous interview with the BBC during the Euros, Nico expressed gratitude to God for allowing him to live with his parents.
"We are all here together now, living a really good life thanks to God. My parents get to see their sons thrive, which is why they came here. Everything we do is for our parents," he said.
"Thanks to God we are all here together now, living a really good life. My parents are getting to watch their sons prosper, which is why they came here. Everything we do is for our parents," he said.
"They risked their lives so that we, my brother and I, could have a better future. And they achieved that. I will forever appreciate what my father and my mother did for us - they are fighters. They instilled in us respect and hard work every day, and that nobody gifts you anything.
"The truth is I am so proud to be able to have them as parents, and I try to do everything possible so that they feel proud to have me as a son," he added.
Unlike Nico, his older brother Inaki Williams plays for the Black Stars of Ghana.
Watch the heartwarming moment between Nico Williams and his mother in the video below:
EE/MA
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