WE NEEDED THE ALL AFRICA BEHIND US! Are We Not Africans Anymore? This Is Our Continent. SA Laments

[00:00:04]So, the South African goalkeeper and captain, Ronwen Williams, expressed his deepest disappointment following his team's opening defeat to Mexico and realizing that the entire continent of Africa was solidly behind Mexico.

[00:00:20]>> What what what went wrong in this game?

[00:00:30]>> He publicly stated that he was hurt to see the rest of the continent, which usually bands together to support African teams in the world stage, backing Mexico instead of South Africa.

[00:00:43]>> People of African descent and Tadisso are wearing Mexican jerseys supporting Mexico because of the things stupid things we're doing in this country. Some people are doing, yeah. Some some of our competitors are doing to our fellow African brothers and sisters here.

[00:00:58]>> And on the flip side, Mexico's head coach, Javier Aguirre, has expressed his gratitude to Africans for the overwhelming support shown to the team during the ongoing FIFA 2026 World Cup opening match against South Africa.

[00:01:14]>> I want to thank the Africans for their massive support. It's unprecedented, something I've never experienced before.

[00:01:20]Following our 2-0 win over South Africa, this support was incredible. Thank you.

[00:01:24]>> According to Aguirre, the level of support Mexico received from across African continent was unlike anything he has ever experienced in his football career. He said, "Africa supported us massively, and I've never seen anything like this in my entire career as a coach. We are very grateful." Many South Africans have reacted and talking about what has happened.

[00:01:47]Many South Africans have reacted asking questions, "What happened? Why is Africa leaving us alone? Leaving us behind?

[00:01:55]Cutting us off?" But some people and Jacinta Ngobese sees it differently.

[00:02:01]Just stay with me a little longer as we dive deep into this video, breaking it down for you to understand. However, if you're first-timer finding my channel for the first time, just make it a point to hit the subscribe button, like the video, and share the video. Go to the comment section, let me know what you think. To my loyal viewers, I say thank you so much. My amazing subscribers, I can't thank you enough. Now, let's stop the talking and get straight into real conversation. So, ladies and gentlemen, inside this camp, close. We need to talk. Something big has happened, and we have to talk. We need to have a conversation. Just grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and fasten your seatbelt because what you're going to see and hear is going to blow your mind. So, just imagine losing your World Cup opener and then realizing that many people across your own continent were cheering for the other team against you.

[00:02:50]South African's captain and goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, says the squad was so hurt by the lack of solidarity from the African continent, and it almost drove them to tears.

[00:03:02]You see, what we have to know is that this is no longer a football story. It is a story of identity, unity, and the consequences of xenophobia. After South Africa's 2-0 defeat to Mexico, Williams openly expressed his disappointment.

[00:03:19]And the coach of Mexico added fuel to the whole debate saying, "Africa supported them massively, and he has never seen anything like this ever in his career, and they are very grateful."

[00:03:31]These two statements transformed a football match into a continental conversation.

[00:03:37]>> I want to thank the Africans for their massive support. It's unprecedented, something I've never experienced before.

[00:03:43]Following our 2-1 over South Africa, this support was incredible. Thank you.

[00:03:48]>> They are going to host the World Cup right now, and our boys are going there uh to come back soon.

[00:04:17]Okay. Uh what what what do we say? What do we say?

[00:04:21]What what what went wrong in this game?

[00:04:33]>> Mexico beat South Africa 2 to 0, but that's not why this match went viral.

[00:04:38]The [music] real story was happening online. As the World Cup opener kicked off, thousands of football fans from across Africa were doing something unexpected. They were supporting Mexico.

[00:04:46]>> [music] >> Normally, when an African nation plays on the world stage, the continent rallies behind them.

[00:04:51]>> [music] >> This time was different. Many fans from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi openly backed Mexico. The reason? Growing anger over reports of xenophobia and attacks against African immigrants living in South Africa. For many, this wasn't just football. It was personal. Then the match started. Mexico scored first [music] from a mistake from the South African keeper. South Africa struggled, and things quickly fell apart. In this match, a total of three red cards were recorded, which sounds shocking. [music] By full time, Mexico had won 2-0, and South Africa had finished the game with just nine men.

[00:05:20]But the biggest talking point wasn't the result. It was the reaction from African fans around the world. Do you think football and real-world issues should stay separate, [music] or was this reaction completely justified? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe for more football stories.

[00:05:34]>> I want to understand something.

[00:05:37]Who is this black man from Africa playing for Mexico?

[00:05:42]I want to understand. How is it possible for a black man called Quiñones playing for Mexico, baba? Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.

[00:05:50]Don't you know you are taking the job of our strikers? You are taking the job of our Are you not ashamed of yourself as a black man going all the way from Africa to go and play for Mexico? Are you not ashamed of yourself, Baba? Wait now. You are taking the job of our strikers. Go back to your country and fix your country. Play for your country, Baba.

[00:06:10]Wait now. We are not going to accept this match. We are playing this match again on the 30th June. We are playing this match again on the 30th June, Baba.

[00:06:18]Wait now. We are not agreeing to this match. How are you possible You are taking the job of our strikers. You are taking the job. Don't you know you are taking the job of our strikers? Don't you have a president who can create a job for you? You are out here taking the job of our strikers, Baba. Wait now. We are not agreeing. On the 30th June, like I said, we are playing this match again.

[00:06:38]UH-UH.

[00:06:38]>> MEXICO!

[00:06:39]>> MEXICO!

[00:06:40]>> MEXICO!

[00:06:41]>> MEXICO!

[00:06:46]>> I THINK PROBABLY ALL OF AFRICA is [music] rooting for Mexico.

[00:07:23]>> Ooh, Operation Dudula.

[00:07:54]>> This is one of the most tense moments.

[00:07:59]>> Okay.

[00:08:00]Is it too early to be stressed about anything?

[00:08:02]At this point, every team is winning here.

[00:08:04]>> No, but so that's the thing about football.

[00:08:07]This moment is sort of the worst because you don't know They got to open up.

[00:08:14]>> That's what I was saying.

[00:08:15]>> Okay, was I not right?

[00:08:16]>> No, now you can control.

[00:08:17]>> No, now you can react. Opening goal, was I not right?

[00:08:19]>> You predicted it.

[00:08:20]>> Was I not right, Joe?

[00:08:21]>> And you said Quinones.

[00:08:22]>> Yeah, Ryan.

[00:08:23]>> Yes, you were correct.

[00:08:26]>> Was I not right? THE TACKLE HAS PAID.

[00:08:29]>> BUT YOU SEE, if we break down this goal, the South African Declan Rice couldn't stand at the box.

[00:08:34]>> Yeah, they locked they locked him down.

[00:08:36]>> [laughter] >> OKAY, SO WE PLEASE.

[00:08:44]>> LIKE, IS THERE REALLY AN advantage um in football when coming to home and away?

[00:08:56]One Mexico, one um zero over Bafana Bafana and early goal um from Mexico. They've opened the goal scoring situation.

[00:09:09]Right now, chance.

[00:09:11]I was about to say >> No, no, but but but there's a minute for you. You can't be chaining inside.

[00:09:17]The way the way we take him over actually I don't know if it's but I thought it was Tembo who Mokwena.

[00:09:26]You can't you can't you can't be chaining. Look look look where you >> [laughter] >> for the LAST TWO WEEKS.

[00:09:33]IT'S NOT FOR ONE TO TRY.

[00:09:34]>> SO, ANDRES. FOR A >> [screaming] >> WHAT DID I TELL YOU? WHAT DID I >> WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

[00:09:40]>> OH, MAN.

[00:09:41]>> WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

[00:09:42]>> IT'S You just need YOU JUST NEED FOUR MORE >> WHAT DID I TELL YOU?

[00:09:44]>> I You said it.

[00:09:46]You just need four more minutes.

[00:09:47]>> What did I tell you?

[00:09:48]>> I feel like the black guy >> And I told Joe.

[00:09:51]>> What What do you mean? He needs to celebrate more cuz he's not going You know you know what? You know what? You need to prove that >> I told Joe.

[00:09:57]>> When you just join the couch >> I told you.

[00:09:59]>> to prove that even the camera's crying, bro.

[00:10:02]>> Who did you pick as the host?

[00:10:03]>> Hey!

[00:10:05]It's cool. Mexico zero, South Africa We predicted that um there's going to be another goal. I said 3-0.

[00:10:16]Um South Africa's not going to make it.

[00:10:19]But it seems like the host nation is making a name for themselves. These are quality players. These are people who are used to intense football. These are people >> Now, let's lay the historical facts.

[00:10:30]Historically, African teams often receive symbolic support across the continent at major tournaments. Fans may have rivalries, but there is usually a sense of African representation, a spiritual backing, carry a shared continental identity on the world stage.

[00:10:48]So, why did this moment feel so different? Many critics point to South Africans long-running struggle with xenophobic violence and hostility towards African migrants. Over the years, attacks on foreign nationals from countries such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ghana, and others have repeatedly drawn condemnation across Africa. For many observers, those events damage the idea of African solidarity.

[00:11:15]That does not actually means every South African support xenophobia. In fact, many South Africans have publicly condemned such violence and discrimination. The backlash after Mexico match revealed a deep frustration among South Africans who believe the action of the minority have damaged the country's image and relationships across the continent.

[00:11:37]>> Those Africans who can afford it.

[00:11:39]>> I was there.

[00:11:40]>> But let me put it this way. I know where you want to go.

[00:11:42]You say they never rose in particular under the cloud >> Yes.

[00:11:45]>> or the scrutinies that Africa is under right now.

[00:11:48]>> 100%.

[00:11:49]>> You had There's means >> People of African descent in the view so are wearing Mexican jerseys supporting Mexico.

[00:11:57]Because of the things stupid things we're doing in this country. Some people are doing yeah.

[00:12:01]Some some of our competitors are doing to our fellow African brothers and sisters yeah.

[00:12:09]Those voices, those Nigerian guys who are all there in Mexico. I wish they were they were wearing Bafana jerseys supporting us.

[00:12:16]>> I mean your Obi Mikels went on the social >> that. We needed them.

[00:12:20]>> Every African athlete, every African superstar spoke about not supporting South Africa at this World Cup.

[00:12:26]>> We needed them. We needed their support.

[00:12:30]>> Mhm.

[00:12:31]But because of the stupid things we're doing in this country >> At the same time, figures such as Jacinta Ngobese represents a different perspective arguing that South Africans have legitimate concerns about immigration, jobs, crime, and national sovereignty. Whether one agrees with her or not, her position reflects a debate that exists within South Africa itself.

[00:12:54]>> Also, those countries that have come out to say that they don't support South Africa, they hate us, they want to see us fail, they want Mexico to beat us, they're proudly Mexican, blah blah blah blah, they're writing us off the African continent.

[00:13:09]I don't know how we can encourage you guys to to to support Mexico and all the other teams that you want to support.

[00:13:18]I I don't know how I I can encourage you.

[00:13:22]We are supporting you to support other teams. We in fact are begging you to support other teams.

[00:13:28]Because if you don't and you support us few years from now you'll be reminding us that you supported us at the World Cup and it's our support or your support that helped us to get where we were.

[00:13:41]And then when we get there then you're going to say you have to bring in your people illegally in our country and they have to live here. They have to be cheap labor. They have to be using our hospitals, our schools, everything for free. And if we say anything against this because we are Afrophobic, xenophobic, we hate ourselves, we hate you. We are doing all kinds of things to you.

[00:14:05]Cuz we are marching on the streets and it's because we are uneducated.

[00:14:11]>> So in the end Mexico won the match but the bigger story may be what happened off the pitch when a South African captain says his team was emotionally shaken by the support received by Mexico. And Mexico's coach publicly thanking Africa for that support. We are witnessing more than a sporting upset.

[00:14:33]We are witnessing a referendum of relationships, trust, and identity across the continent. Was this simply football rivalry or was it a message from African fans to South Africa? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section everyone. Thank you so much for joining me in this episode and I really appreciate your time. Make it a point to hit the subscribe button, like the video, and share the video. I've always said that the story of Africa is being rewritten and don't let us write it without you. This was Inside Studios Network and I'm gone.