Ronwen Williams gets candid about the Benin vs Nigeria clash! | OneFootball

South Africa's captain predicts his team's future.

Ronwen Williams gets candid about the Benin vs Nigeria clash!

With the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaching its climax, the hopes of a nation rest on the shoulders of Bafana Bafana and their captain, Ronwen Williams. As the team prepares for a decisive final qualifier against Rwanda, the goalkeeper has opened up about the high-stakes permutations, casting a confident eye towards their rivals' fortunes.

The mission is clear: secure a victory against Rwanda and secure a ticket to the global tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This urgency was magnified after Bafana Bafana's recent stumble, failing to claim three points against Zimbabwe. That unexpected result allowed Benin—who now sit at the summit of Group C after a 1-0 win over Rwanda—to stretch their lead, tightening the race.

Yet, within the South African camp, a sense of belief prevails, championed by their skipper. Williams acknowledges the shift in public sentiment but remains an unwavering optimist.

“People will have doubts now, but if you look back to a month ago, it looked like everything was clear for us to qualify,” the Bafana captain revealed in a conversation with the team’s media. “I still feel everything is working out in our favour. I believe in fairytales.”

He then drew a parallel to a poignant moment from the past, adding a layer of destiny to their upcoming challenge. “If I remember well, 12 years ago, we had our calculators out in Mbombela, where we are going now, and maybe we’re going to correct the wrongs from that time.”

Williams's optimism extends to the other crucial match in the group, where Nigeria is set to host Benin. He shared his prediction with conviction, stating, “So I’m positive, I have faith, and all the results went our way. Now it’s for Nigeria to play Benin, and I don’t see Benin getting results in Nigeria. It’s just for us to get the job done as well.”

The upcoming match is more than just a qualifier; it's an opportunity for redemption. Rwanda remains the only team to have defeated Bafana Bafana in this qualifying campaign, a fact that fuels the team's motivation. Ending his rallying cry, Williams sent a heartfelt message to the supporters, urging, “We know how important that game [against] Rwanda is going to be, and we’ve got a score to settle with Rwanda. There’s a lot of motivation behind this game; they are the only team that beat us in the qualifiers. The nation shouldn’t lose hope, get behind the boys and keep sending the positive messages, and maybe things will fall in our way.”