Ronwen Williams makes bullish Bafana AFCON claim

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Williams on Bafana AFCON ambitions

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackPagePix

Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams has made a bullish statement about his team's chances in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

South Africa have been drawn in Group B alongside record seven-time African champions Egypt, neighbors Zimbabwe, and Angola, whom they face in their curtain raiser on Monday (19h00).

Hugo Broos' men clinched the Bronze medal in the previous edition and are on an unbeaten run since then, but Williams insists they are not favorites, advocating for host nation Morocco.

“I think we've obviously had a wonderful two years. I think we've been unbeaten since the previous AFCON, we've been on a very good run but there are so many factors that go into winning this tournament. It's not an easy tournament to win, it's so hard,” said the Bafana skipper.

“But we believe that we can go a step further, we've got the ability, we've got the quality. But we need to show up and we need to showcase how far we've come as a team. But I think the favorites will always be the host nation - it's for them to lose.

Though the experienced shot-stopper believes the Atlas Lions are the outright favorites for the prestigious title, he says the Bafana camp is hell-bent on going all the way to the final and lift the trophy.

“But we believe that we can go all the way. For us our objective is to go a step further than the previous AFCON and that is to show growth and that means we go all the way to lift it - that is everyone's dream, but you need a little bit more and you need luck along the way as well,” Williams added.

"So, we believe that we can give a good account of ourselves and we'll just go out there and fight, have the same spirit and mentality that we've had over the last few years, which has carried us through and put us on this wonderful path.

"So, we'll just go out there and take it each game, give our all, and hopefully the football gods will bless South Africa with the AFCON trophy.