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South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has expressed disappointment at what he described as a lack of support from fellow African nations following Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match on Thursday night, Saturday PUNCH reports.

The result leaves South Africa with work to do in Group A as they pursue a place in the knockout rounds.

Speaking after the match, Williams admitted he was surprised by the volume of African football fans who appeared to back Mexico rather than an African representative on the global stage, and called for greater unity among Africans during major tournaments.

“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 said. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but it’s truly sad.”

"As Africans, let’s stand for each other, let’s stand together.”

While some supporters sympathised with the goalkeeper’s sentiments and agreed that African nations should rally behind one another at international competitions, others offered a contrasting view.

A number of social media users from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe argued that recurring reports of xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa have weakened the sense of continental solidarity, with several referencing past incidents involving foreign nationals living in the country as having shaped how other Africans view South Africa.

Some openly stated that they had supported Mexico in the match, citing those tensions as a factor in their decision.

https://punchng.com/south-africas-williams-hurt-by-lack-of-african-support/

Just a little taste from what you dish out

Una never see anything thing

African support kee you there, does your fellow country men see themselves as Africans?

Fake news. South Africa is doing the right thing. We can't lawless as Africans. Respect South African immigration laws

Which African in their right senses will support you backward and xenophobic lots

African support go keeee you. As far as I'm concerned you're not African. Just a coloured race.

omoredia:
Fake news. South Africa is doing the right thing. We can't lawless as Africans. Respect South African immigration laws

Make amadioha kill you there

This has all the looks of a fake news

Crocodile tears, you ain't seen nothing,

Nigerians are the ones collecting money from Saudi, Qatar, Iran etc to be supporting terrorism against fellow Nigerians in the nane of religion. We have no right to complain about South Africa.

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/terror-hajj

Bobloco:
South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has expressed disappointment at what he described as a lack of support from fellow African nations following Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match on Thursday night, Saturday PUNCH reports.

The result leaves South Africa with work to do in Group A as they pursue a place in the knockout rounds.

Speaking after the match, Williams admitted he was surprised by the volume of African football fans who appeared to back Mexico rather than an African representative on the global stage, and called for greater unity among Africans during major tournaments.

“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 said. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but it’s truly sad.”

"As Africans, let’s stand for each other, let’s stand together.”

While some supporters sympathised with the goalkeeper’s sentiments and agreed that African nations should rally behind one another at international competitions, others offered a contrasting view.

A number of social media users from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe argued that recurring reports of xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa have weakened the sense of continental solidarity, with several referencing past incidents involving foreign nationals living in the country as having shaped how other Africans view South Africa.

Some openly stated that they had supported Mexico in the match, citing those tensions as a factor in their decision.

https://punchng.com/south-africas-williams-hurt-by-lack-of-african-support/

Mr Man, South Africa is on its own. He hasn't gotten the latest gist that their government want to be charging for deportees that they kicked out of their country

We are all humans first.
It's shameful South Africa could be a racist nation to their African brothers.

This is the result. I pray they don't encounter a foreign invasion in the near future, then......

You've not seen anything yet . No one owns the world and everyone is important one way or the another .

While I condemn illegal immigrants , the solution is not to kill your fellow Africans or loot their shop .

There are always alternative and better options .

Mr. Williams, don't let that get to your head.
You and your mates be calm, focused and you will get the job done. All these shall come to pass and if you do well they will turn around to be your trumpets.

Abeg getat! my friend.. Rubbish

SA must LULE !

y'all must walk alone in this wilderness !

Una never see something ?

your next generations go follow suffer for these una MUMU weh una think say na joke

omoredia:
Fake news. South Africa is doing the right thing. We can't lawless as Africans. Respect South African immigration laws

everything is fake news to an ignorant... That 2 red cards is a sign that nothing will be going their way during this world cup tournament.

Your ecil ways and actions caused it downfall.
U will still fall aside from football oo

This is just sample, If another apartheid regime or racial marginalization takes over South-Africa, no single Africa country will support or back them.. We will rather pray for the white South Africans to take over because they are more human than these "Xenophobic Black Sad-Africans" who beat-up their fellow Africans on the streets like common thieves.

Let them also have that in mind.

South Africa has lost it in this continent called Africa.

Tears without African support? The very people you want out of your life and country?

He must be living in self denial if he say he doesn't know why the rest of Africa do not support them. Morocco should be the next to feel the wrath of Africans

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 said. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but it’s truly sad.”

Your case is different and will never have solution

walosky:
Una never see anything thing

I swear.
Them never see hate.
And our own Na perpetual

You people are from another continent so let that continent support you

You can’t be chasing out your fellow Africans from your country harshly and still be expecting support….

Which support??



Anyways, na tinubu I blame sha

Reference:
Mr. Williams, don't let that get to your head.
You and your mates be calm, focused and you will get the job done. All these shall come to pass and if you do well they will turn around to be your trumpets.

are you expecting those useless people to beat SOUTH KOREA AND CZECH? Dreamers 😜

Mehnn, I didn't just support Mexico to win, I backed it up with money sef. S/A never see anything yet.

A good turn deserves another.
Stop the complain bro

Very funny, so South Africa bin think say dem fit pass group stage for world cup?