Bafana Bafana skipper Ronwen Williams has called for continuity as the national team transitions into a new era under Pitso Mosimane following the departure of Hugo Broos.
Mosimane leads South Africa against Guinea in Saturday’s 2027 AFCON qualifier at Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto. It will be his first game in charge of Bafana on his return for a second stint with the national side. Kickoff is set for 15:00 CAT.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach inherited a team that was at the 2026 FIFA World Cup two months ago and made history by reaching the knockout stages for the first time. Broos’ tenure also saw South Africa claim bronze at the 2025 AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
That presents Mosimane with a bar to at least match, although the biggest task would be emulating the Class of 1996, which won the AFCON title on home soil.
‘WE HAVE SET VERY HIGH TARGETS’ – WILLIAMS ON AMBITIONS UNDER MOSIMANE
Remaining at the helm as national team captain, Ronwen Williams has called for continuity while spelling out that qualification alone will not satisfy Bafana Bafana at AFCON.
“Obviously it’s a continuation of what we built over the last few years. We can’t take steps back now. We have got high expectations as players,” Williams told the media at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.
“Definitely the coach as well has high expectations. The relationship is good; it’s positive, and we are all looking forward to the same [regarding] what we can achieve.
“So, everything has been good, has been smooth. Everyone is aligned to the job at hand, and as I mentioned, we don’t want to go back. We have come a long way; we have climbed the ladder.
“But it’s now time to take it even further. There are more steps that need to be climbed, and that’s exactly what the coach has emphasised this week: can we be a bit better? Can we achieve more?
“That’s the word, the energy and the spirit in camp right now. We want to do more, and at this moment it’s qualifying for AFCON. It shouldn’t be a question mark anymore; it should be second nature that Bafana Bafana qualify.
“We have done it over the last few years; we have turned the corner. So, now there shouldn’t be any doubts. We have to set our targets very high, and that’s exactly what we have done as a team.”
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