World Cup 2026: South Africa captain Ronwen Williams proud of Bafana Bafana despite elimination

South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has expressed pride despite his outfit suffering elimination from the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Canada in the round 32.

The Bafana Bafana’s inspiring journey at the global tournament came to an end following a hard-fought 1-0 defeat on Sunday night, but the Bafana Bafana captain believes the team proved their quality on the world stage.

Led by the experienced goalkeeper, South Africa reached the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history, a remarkable achievement that has earned admiration from football supporters across the continent.

Speaking after the match, the Mamelodi Sundowns shot-stopper praised the spirit, determination and mentality displayed by the squad throughout the tournament.

“I’m proud of the boys, we showed our quality,” Williams said in comments shared by SuperSport TV.

“We can leave here with our heads high, proud of the boys, the effort, the fight and character, the mindset to keep fighting.”

The captain also reflected on the difficult start South Africa experienced earlier in the competition before eventually turning things around to qualify for the knockout rounds.

“We didn’t have the best start to the tournament, our backs were against the wall but to come out here today and show up, show our worth, we can only be proud,” he added.

The Bafana Bafana’s performances during the World Cup demonstrated the growth of South African football under coach Hugo Broos. The team displayed resilience, discipline and tactical maturity against some of the strongest nations in the tournament.

Williams also highlighted the importance of the experience for the younger players in the squad, many of whom were participating in the World Cup for the first time.

“It’s a very young team, this is good for them now, going into the future. But we can be proud,” the goalkeeper concluded.

The tournament is expected to serve as a major learning experience for South Africa as they continue building towards future continental and international competitions. With several emerging talents gaining valuable exposure on the global stage, optimism remains high about the future of Bafana Bafana.

Despite the defeat that ended their World Cup dream, South Africa’s historic run will be remembered as one of the country’s most significant football achievements in recent years.