South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has called for unity across Africa after rejecting comments attributed to him in.
The goalkeeper said he has been wrongly criticised over statements he insists he never made about Africans and Mexico.
Williams said the controversy has led to misunderstanding and unnecessary backlash, stressing that his message has always been about solidarity among African nations.
He maintained that football should bring people together rather than create division among supporters.
Williams denies controversial remarks
Responding to the claims, Williams strongly dismissed the alleged statements linking him to comments about Africans supporting Mexico.
“I’ve been a target over the last few days for things I haven’t said. I didn’t say anything about Africa and people supporting Mexico.
I’ve always said, as Africa, we’re one, we support each other in good or bad moments. We’ve got our own problems that we deal with back home, every country…”
He reiterated that his position has consistently been rooted in unity, regardless of national differences or challenges faced by individual countries.
Football as a unifying force
The South African skipper also highlighted the diverse atmosphere around the ongoing tournament, saying it reflects the true spirit of the game.
“We’re in Atlanta now and I see so many Africans, Mexicans in one room, that’s the beauty of football. So let’s just enjoy, lets have a wonderful time and we leave politics to the politicians, let’s play football and criticize for what happens on the field.”
Williams urged fans to focus on the sport itself, noting that football should remain a platform for connection, respect, and shared enjoyment among nations.