South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has appealed to football fans across Africa to rally behind Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite growing resentment over xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in his country.
Williams made the appeal ahead of South Africa’s crucial Group A clash against the Czech Republic on Thursday, following widespread hostility from African supporters during Bafana Bafana’s opening match against Mexico. Many African fans openly backed Mexico in protest against recent anti-immigrant sentiments and attacks on foreigners in South Africa.
Mexico went on to defeat South Africa 2-0 at the historic Estadio Azteca, a result that many observers viewed as symbolic of the backlash against the country’s handling of migrant issues. The goalkeeper said the atmosphere felt different on the pitch. “Africans have always supported other African countries in every World Cup tournament, but I can’t figure out why our own case is different,” Williams stated. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us. We almost shed tears, but truly this is sad.”
The fallout was evident both online and offline. Some African supporters changed profile pictures to Mexican flags, shared pro-Mexico content on social media and celebrated South Africa’s defeat. The hashtag #MexicoVersusXenophobia also gained traction across several African countries. Online criticism targeting the Bafana Bafana squad stems from deep-seated regional tensions over migration, as social media users from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe admitted to supporting the North American side, citing recurring reports of xenophobic attacks against African migrants living in South Africa.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Williams said players should not be held responsible for political and social issues beyond their control. “I have always said that, as Africans, we are one and we should support each other in both good and bad moments,” Williams said. “We have our politics, we have our problems, and we’ve got our own fights that we deal with back home. Every country does. So, I don’t know where all the toxicity came from, but it does hurt.”
The goalkeeper admitted that criticism directed at him and his country had been painful and said he was also targeted by fake quotes that made it seem as though he criticised other Africans for not supporting South Africa. “I’ve been a target over the last few days about things that I haven’t said. I didn’t speak anything about Africa and people supporting Mexico,” he said. Williams concluded his remarks with a heartfelt plea for unity, urging, “As Africans, let’s stand for each other, let’s stand together.”
