Incredible journey of Nico parents

THE wing wizard who tore England to pieces in the Euro 2024 final was able to play for Spain after his parents crossed the Sahara desert barefoot.

- DAN WARBURTON

Nico Williams, 22, scored just after the start of the second half to stun England and set his team on the path to clinching the trophy.

His mother Maria and father Felix left their native Ghana in 1994 when she got pregnant with Nico's older brother, and now Athletic Bilbao teammate, Inaki.

Their Saharan ordeal gave Felix problems with the soles of his feet for the rest of his life due to the scorching 50C sand.

After reaching the Spanish community of Melilla, on the northern tip of Morocco, having sneaked past a border fence, Maria and Felix were detained.