Williams: Formation Wasn’t The Issue

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Ronwen Williams of South Africa during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 South Africa press conference and training at Free State Stadium, in Bloemfontein on 08 September 2025 ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix

Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams believes South Africa’s tactical approach against Mexico was based on thorough preparation and analysis.

Highlights: Mexico vs Bafana Bafana

South Africa suffered an opening-day defeat at the World Cup, losing 2-0 to the hosts.

The result leaves Bafana Bafana rooted to the bottom of the Group A standings without a point, while Mexico climb to the summit with three points.

READ: Broos: We Dominated The Ball And Played Well

Williams insisted the defeat was not down to the formation, maintaining that Bafana had a solid game plan and were ultimately punished for errors at key moments.

“Obviously, when we analysed them as well. Most of the games they have played, they have played with a back-five as well as a 3-5-2,” Williams told SABC Sport.

“So, we wanted to go with a similar approach but have an extra number in midfield. But obviously they changed that’s how football is, they came with a back-four and that’s what we had to put out in the game.

“We had to go man-to-man and at this level you need to learn and pick it up as quickly as possible and see, it’s tough lessons today.

“But I don’t think it’s anything to do with the formation we played. We analysed studied them and we had a good game-plan, obviously it was an error from us in the first half and that gave them the opportunity to go on the front-foot.”