player of the tournament? Williams the hero as Bafana win bronze medal
Mzansi goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams saved the day once again when Bafana Bafana won their third place Afcon match against DR Congo.
South Africans are debating whether Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams should win the award for player of the tournament, goalkeeper of the tournament or both, at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2023.
This comes as South Africa won third place on Saturday at the highly-contested tournament, which draws to a close in Ivory Coast on Sunday, 11 February.
BAFANA CAPTAIN RONWEN WILLIAMS SAVES THE DAU AGAIN
Bafana Bafana and Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) met at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan after losing to Nigeria and Ivory Coast respectively in the tournament’s semi-finals.
Neither teams scored after fulltime, which took the game to a penalty shootout that Bafana Bafana won 6-5. This saw Williams once again becoming the hero as he produced two saves, giving South Africa a third place finish in the 2023 Afcon.
The 32-year-old, who plays for DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns, has been immense for the SA national team. In Bafana’s quarterfinal match against Cape Verde, he saved a staggering four penalties.
Williams’ heroics do not end there, as he has now surpassed former Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse’s cleansheet record – making him the first South African goalkeeper to keep five cleansheets in a single major tournament. In addition, he only condeded three goals in seven Afcon matches and made a whooping 20 saves.
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT?
Whilst it seems shot-stopper has no competition for the goalkeeper of the tournament award (otherwise known as the golden glove), it is not easy to tell who would win the player of the tournament award. However, some South Africans have their money on the Bafana captain.
Williams player + goalkeeper of the tournament trophy pics we will be there!🙏🏽
— Haalandor🇿🇦 (@th8ndoo) February 10, 2024
If Ronwen Williams is not named the #AFCON2023 player of the tournament, then that will be the biggest robbery witnessed in recent tournament history. The man made string of saves particularly vs Nigeria that you ordinarily would not expect the average shot-stopper to make. pic.twitter.com/F6f2COrz9u
— Mark Kinyanjui (@Kiinya_Y) February 11, 2024
Williams has to be player of the tournament. No player has impressed this tournament. Knowing CAF they’ll give it to Osimhen or Lookman because they’re European based. 😔
— King Rashford 😤 (@Inqama97) February 10, 2024
