South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has urged football fans across Africa and beyond to set aside politics and embrace unity, insisting that Africans are one people despite their differences.
His appeal comes after South Africa suffered a disappointing start to their FIFA World Cup campaign, losing 2-0 to Mexico in a match that also saw two South African players sent off, leaving the team with nine men.
Following the defeat, social media was flooded with reactions from supporters of other African nations, many of whom mocked South Africa’s poor result. The backlash was largely linked to past xenophobic attacks in South Africa that affected migrants from several African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana.
Speaking ahead of South Africa’s next World Cup fixture against Czechia, Williams appealed for greater solidarity among Africans, stressing that football should be enjoyed as a sport while political issues are left to politicians.
The South African skipper emphasized the need for unity and mutual support among African nations, particularly on the global stage.
