AFCON 2023: South Africa Hero Williams Opens Up on Secret Behind Penalty Saves

• Ronwen Williams has attributed his heroics to the Bafana Bafana analysts
• The goalie saved penalties in the shootout win against Cape Verde
• South Africa will next meet Nigeria in the AFCON semi-finals

Ronwen Williams became the first goalkeeper to ever save four penalties in a single Africa Cup of Nations penalty shootout following South Africa’s victory over Cape Verde.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper was the hero for Bafana Bafana as they secured their first-ever semi-final spot at AFCON since 1996 after they knocked out the Blue Sharks via penalties in the quarter-finals on Saturday, February 3.

According to FARPost, Williams has now attributed his heroics to the South Africa technical crew, especially the analysts who provided him with enough footage of Cape Verde’s previous spot-kicks for him to know at least half of the opponents.

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“I give credit to the analysts, they prepared me, they cut so many videos. We studied the clips, I studied them as well.

“Yeah, it’s not [only] me [who did the job], like I said credit to the analysts and the goalkeeper coach as well. They sent me so many clips you know, my phone is full of penalty clips.”

South Africa will face three-time AFCON winners Nigeria next for a place in the final in Abidjan.

Ronwen Williams breaks more records

Meanwhile, Ronwen Williams has now matched South Africa's 1996 Afcon-winning goalkeeper, Andre Arendse, after keeping yet another clean sheet at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations against Cape Verde, GOAL reports.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper matched Andre Arendse’s record of keeping four clean sheets in a competition, but Williams achieved his by doing it four games in a row for Bafana Bafana.

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Williams was also the big hero in the penalty shootout as he saved four penalties to make sure that South Africa advanced to the semi-finals.

Williams sets new AFCON record

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Ronwen Williams was South Africa's hero in the 2-1 penalty shootout victory over Cape Verde, advancing to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals for the first time in 23 years.

The Bafana Bafana goalie led by example by saving four penalty kicks in a thrilling penalty shootout against the Blue Sharks, propelling South Africa to the semi-finals for the first time since 1996.