Incredible Ronwen Williams! South Africa's goalkeeper saves four shots on goal from Cape Verde to send Bafana Bafana through to the semi-finals of AFCON 2023 (1-1, 2-1 on penalties). The South Africans will face Nigeria for a place in the final.
The last four of the AFCON 2023 is complete. After solid Nigeria, astonishing DR Congo and miraculous Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa has booked its ticket. Bafana Bafana came from behind to beat the Blue Sharks, after the first 0-0 draw since the start of the knockout phase, and a cheeky penalty shootout performance from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams that will forever go down in the annals of the competition. Ronwen Williams had already kept his country alive in injury time. Gilson, who came on in the 87th minute, could have been the national hero and sent Cape Verde into the semi-finals before extra time. But his fine volley was spectacularly saved by South African keeper Ronwell Williams (90th). His Cape Verdean counterpart Vozinha responded at the start of extra time by saving two great Bafana Bafana chances.
Ronwen Williams saves four penalties
The match between goalkeepers goes to penalties.Ronwen Williams proved to be ruthless and incredible. The Mamelodi Sundwons keeper stopped Cape Verde's first three attempts from the spot. His team-mates even took the liberty of wasting two minutes. But it didn't matter, as he saved the Sharks' 4th shot and lifted his country into the semi-finals of the AFCON (0-0, pen 2-1).
The South Africans had not reached this stage of the competition since the AFCON 2000 in Nigeria. And their Belgian coach, Hugo Broos, 2017 champion with Cameroon, has yet to lose a knockout match at the Africa Cup of Nations.Cape Verde, on the other hand, will have to wait for their first AFCON semi-final.
