FIFA World Cup 2026

“We Were Under “Siege”—Williams Hails Bafana Bafana’s Resilience After Historic World Cup Victory

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has praised the character and resilience of the team after they made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a crucial victory over South Korea.

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South Africa secured qualification for the Round of 32 for the first time in the nation’s World Cup history following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea.

Bafana Bafana finished as runners-up in Group A with four points, thanks to Thapelo Maseko’s decisive goal, which booked their place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Coach Hugo Broos and his charges suffered a difficult start to their campaign, suffering a 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico, a result that drew heavy criticism from supporters. They then played out a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic, leaving their hopes of progression hanging in the balance.

Speaking after the historic victory over South Korea, skipper Williams, who recorded his first clean sheet at a FIFA World Cup praised the team’s fighting spirit and determination in overcoming the criticism that followed their opening matches.

“I’m lost for words. I’m lost for words; I honestly don’t know what to say. I don’t know if there’s a better word than proud. I’m super proud; I’m ecstatic,” Williams told SABCSport.

“Just for what this team has been through, the doubters, the stress that we’ve been through. To play at this elite level, it’s not easy to keep a clean sheet against such quality opposition.

“To perform the way we did, to defend the way we did it, speaks volumes of the character of the team. We were under siege, but we stayed strong.

“The mentality and the character in these boys—I mean, I’m scared for the future of this country. These boys are 20, 19, and 21 years old playing at this level. I’m old already, but the experience that they are gaining will help us as a country.

“But it’s amazing; I’m so happy and proud to be a leader of this team.”

Bafana Bafana will face Canada in their Round of 32 clash on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00.

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