AFCON 2023: Ronwen Williams Penalty Heroics Not Luck But Hard work – South Africa Coach

AFCON 2023: Ronwen Williams Penalty Heroics Not Luck But Hard work – South Africa Coach

By Precious Oham

South Africa coach Hugo Broos said the penalty heroics of Ronwen Williams during the shootout with Cape Verde was not luck but hardwork, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

South Africa's Williams stopped four of Cape Verde's five spot kicks to help Bafana Bafana advance to the semi-final of the 2023 AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire. 

Broos applauded his team for their hardwork in training which paid off in Yamoussoukro and admitted Bafana Bafana did not put in their best display.

South Africa finished second in Group E with four points in three games and they defeated 2022 World Cup finalists Morocco in the round of 16 to keep their title hopes alive.

After Saturday’s win, the Belgian coach told the media: “When we got to the penalty shootout, it was a special thing for the players, because during training they were scoring them. When we have a goalkeeper who stops 4 penalty kicks, this is not luck but a lot of hard work.

“Not many people in South Africa believed in this team, but we believed in it, and the players believed in themselves as well. Reaching the semi-finals is in itself a good thing for South African football.

“There was a lot of pressure in the match. Everyone wanted to qualify. This match was unlike the previous ones. We did not show the same performance as we had in previous matches.”

South Africa’s next hurdle will be against Nigeria on Wednesday, in a game that would be a repeat of the 2000 AFCON.

South Africa's captain became the first goalkeeper to ever save four penalties in a single AFCON shootout and also became the first goalkeeper to make a single save in a penalty shootout at AFCON 2023.