South Africa captain, Ronwen Williams, has expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of support from fellow Africans following Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match on Thursday night.
The defeat leaves South Africa with work to do in Group A as they continue their push for a place in the knockout stages.
Speaking after the match, Williams said he was surprised that many African football fans appeared to support Mexico instead of South Africa, the continent’s representative in the fixture.
The goalkeeper said African countries had traditionally supported one another at the World Cup, adding that South Africa’s case appeared different.
“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.”
Williams’ comments have sparked mixed reactions among football fans across the continent.
While some supporters sympathised with him and agreed that African nations should rally behind one another at major tournaments, others disagreed.
Some social media users from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe argued that recurring reports of xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa had weakened the feeling of continental solidarity.
Several fans referenced past attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, saying such incidents influenced their decision to support Mexico during the match.
Others, however, maintained that politics and social tensions should not overshadow African representation at the World Cup.
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