South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has appealed to football supporters across Africa to rally behind Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying players should not become targets for political and social tensions beyond their control.
Williams made the appeal ahead of South Africa’s Group stage fixture against the Czech Republic on Thursday after sections of African supporters publicly backed Mexico during South Africa’s opening match of the tournament.
South Africa suffered a 2–0 defeat to Mexico in that game amid online and stadium reactions linked to criticism over reports of anti-migrant sentiment and xenophobic incidents in South Africa.
In recent weeks, concerns about attacks on foreign nationals and anti-immigration demonstrations have generated debate across the continent and sparked conversations about African solidarity during international sporting events.
The backlash extended to social media, where some supporters from across Africa openly supported Mexico and circulated campaign messages expressing frustration over South Africa’s domestic migration issues.
Speaking before the next match, Williams said athletes should not be judged based on political developments outside football.
“I have always said that, as Africans, we are one and we should support each other in both good and bad moments,” Williams said.
He acknowledged that criticism directed at both the team and the country had affected players emotionally but stressed that footballers should remain focused on performance rather than political disputes.
“We have our politics, we have our problems, and we’ve got our own fights that we deal with back home. Every country does,” he said.
Williams added that sport remains one of the few platforms capable of bringing people together regardless of disagreements.
“That is the beauty of sports; that is the beauty of football,” he said, urging supporters to judge teams based on performances on the field rather than wider political debates.
South Africa will face the Czech Republic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with both teams seeking a first victory after difficult starts to their World Cup campaign.
The outcome could prove decisive in shaping South Africa’s chances of progressing from the group stage.
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