Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has expressed confidence that Nigeria will end Benin Republic’s fine run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He stated that the Cheetahs stand no chance of securing a result against the Super Eagles in Uyo.
Speaking after South Africa’s goalless draw with Zimbabwe on Friday, which dented their qualification hopes, Williams remained optimistic about his team’s chances of advancing. Despite Benin leading Group C with 17 points, two ahead of South Africa, he believes everything is still working in their favor.
“I still feel everything is working in our favour. I believe in fairytales,” said the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper. “If I remember correctly, 12 years ago we had our calculators out in Mbombela, where we’re going again. Maybe this time we’ll correct the wrongs from that campaign.”
Williams was particularly bullish about Nigeria’s chances, insisting that the Super Eagles will do Bafana a favour by defeating Benin. “Now it’s for Nigeria to play Benin, and I don’t see Benin getting a result in Nigeria. We just need to make sure we get our job done as well,” he added.
Looking ahead to South Africa’s next fixture against Rwanda, Williams stressed the importance of the match, describing it as a must-win encounter. “We know how big that game against Rwanda is going to be. We’ve got a score to settle. They’re the only team that beat us, so there’s a lot of motivation going into it,” he concluded.
The Super Eagles are set to host Benin Republic in Uyo as the race for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies across Africa.
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