Bafana’s Keeper Feels Team Should be in AFCON finals
Bafana Bafana skipper Ronwen Williams feels they deserved more as they succumbed to a penalty defeat at the hands of Nigeria in the AFCON semi-finals.
Following their defeat in a penalty shoot-out at the hands of Nigeria on Wednesday night, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says his troops deserved more.
Bafana faced the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a crucial Afcon semi-final clash but coach Hugo Broos’ troops failed to secure a win as they lost in the penalties after extra time.
In his post-match address, Williams stated that he believes Bafana deserved better as they managed to find their way back into the clash through midfielder Teboho Mokoena’s penalty.
In a devastated mood, Williams expressed that the 1996 Afcon champions, Bafana deserved to beat the Super Eagles and take their place in the final.
Following a 1-all stalemate against the West Africans, Bafana were edged out 4-2 on penalties by Jose Peseiro’s men, with Williams unable to repeat his heroics in the penalty shoot-out that he had produced against Cape Verde a few days earlier.
“Obviously we are still devastated, there is….a lot of pain,” Williams told Safa media.
“But I am so immensely proud of the boys, day in and day out we showed our resilience and our brotherhood.
“I think this team deserved to be in the final just for the brotherhood we showed, and the hard work we put in over the last five weeks.
“But as much as I am feeling sad, I am so proud of every member of this squad.
“We felt the support, social media has been going crazy in the last few weeks.
“We have seen each and every message of support and encouragement. It is what I have been crying out for, for the public to get behind this team.
“But we know it is all about results. We have got the results now and hopefully, this can be the start of building a relationship…together.
“We know what is possible now and we need each and every one.
“We need the support to fill up the stadiums at home and we need them (the fans) to keep sending us messages of support. Even when we lose, we must stick together.”
With the former Cameroon mentor, Broos eyeing to secure the third spot at the biennial showpiece, the Mamelodi Sundowns keeper added that they will prepare accordingly.
Bafana will meet fellow semi-final losers, DR Congo in Abidjan on Saturday evening (kick-off 10 pm SA time).
“I think the team deserved to be in the final, but we need to recover today and on Saturday we want to go out and finish on a positive note,” added Williams.
“We will prepare accordingly, we are still in camp and still wearing the South African badge, so we are still in service to our country.
“We will go out and take the game seriously and hopefully we can come back with that bronze medal.”
Read: AFCON Semi-Final Heartbreak for South Africa as Nigeria Clinches Victory
