South Africa’s Ronwen Hayden Williams reveals his failed theatrics in AFCON 2023 penalty loss to Nigeria

Ronwen William Hayden was made Bafana Bafana captain in August 2021 after Thulani Hlatshwayo was excluded from the team squad by Hugo Broos.

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, has revealed that he tried to get into the minds of the Nigerian penalty takers when both sides met at the AFCON semi-final, Soccernet.ng reports.

Williams, 32, won the Golden Glove Award at the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast after an incredible performance that saw him seal his name in the competition’s history.

The tournament award winners at AFCON 2023:

▪️Best Player: William Troost-Ekong (age 30)
▪️Golden Boot: Emilio Nsue (age 34)
▪️Best Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (age 32) pic.twitter.com/DH6QbKqS5q

— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) February 12, 2024

In South Africa’s quarter-final clash against Cape Verde, the Mamelodi Sundowns man made four saves in the penalty shoot-out to send Hugo Broos’ side to the semi-finals, becoming the first goalkeeper to record such a feat.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t repeat his heroics against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, as four penalties went past him. He admitted that he tried to get into the head of some of the spot-kick takers, but his plan failed.

“Obviously, it is either you are going one of three sides, it’s either down the middle or left or right. Now they don’t want us to talk to the players anymore. I try to push the limits, so I go up to them and try to tell them where they are going so that at least I have cut out one side. They started studying me as well you know, four out of five penalties, they went down the middle, so now I need to come up with better ideas,” the former Super Sports United goalkeeper told CBS Sports Golazo.

Ronwen Hayden Williams will have another opportunity to exert his revenge on the Nigerian team when both sides meet in their World Cup Qualifier in June.

N.B: We’d like to know your thoughts. Do you think goalkeepers should be allowed to talk to players as they step up to take a penalty? Leave your comments below: