South Africa captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has expressed his disappointment over what he perceives as a lack of support from fellow Africans during Bafana Bafana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking after South Africa’s participation in the global showpiece, Williams admitted he was surprised to see many African football fans rallying behind other nations rather than supporting the continent’s sole remaining representative at certain stages of the tournament.
According to the experienced shot-stopper, African nations have traditionally united behind one another whenever one of their own reaches the latter stages of a FIFA World Cup. However, he believes South Africa’s experience has been markedly different.
“Africans have always supported other African countries in every World Cup tournament, but I can’t figure out why our own case is different. Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but truly, this is sad. As Africans, let’s stand for each other, let’s stand together,” Williams said.
His comments have sparked debate across the continent, with many supporters pointing to historical football rivalries, controversial moments involving South African football, and differing national allegiances as possible reasons behind the divided support.
Despite the disappointment, Williams praised South Africa’s supporters for standing firmly behind the team throughout the tournament. He stressed that football should serve as a unifying force for Africa, especially on the world’s biggest stage, where continental solidarity can inspire players and fans alike.
Bafana Bafana’s performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup earned widespread recognition, with the team showcasing resilience, discipline and determination against some of the strongest sides in international football. Their campaign rekindled hopes of Africa producing another deep World Cup run and demonstrated the growing competitiveness of African football on the global stage.
Williams concluded by urging Africans to put aside differences and embrace a spirit of unity whenever a team from the continent represents Africa at major international tournaments.
“When one African nation succeeds on the world stage, it reflects positively on the entire continent. We must continue to support each other and celebrate our achievements together,” he added.
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