Ghanaian media personality Nana Aba Anamoah has responded to comments made by South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams following South Africa’s defeat to Mexico at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
In a post shared on X on June 18, 2026, Nana Aba challenged Williams’ assertion that football fans should separate politics from football and not allow xenophobic incidents in South Africa to influence their support during matches.
Williams had earlier clarified remarks attributed to him on social media, stating that he never criticised Africans for supporting Mexico over South Africa. He stressed that Africans should remain united despite the political and social challenges faced by individual countries.
According to the goalkeeper, he and his country had come under criticism because of issues occurring in South Africa, particularly xenophobic attacks, even though players have no control over such matters.
“I have been a target over the last few days over things I never said. I didn’t speak about Africa and people supporting Mexico. As Africans, we are one, and we support each other in good and bad moments. We all have our own politics, our own problems, and our own battles back home; every country does.
“I’ve been attacked, and obviously my country as well, because of things happening back home. Players are human beings, too, and we go through these things. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming because all you want to do is focus on your job, which is playing football,” Williams said.
Reacting to the comments, Nana Aba argued that speaking out against xenophobia should not be viewed as a political act but rather a matter of humanity and respect for fellow Africans.
“Condemning xenophobia isn’t politics. It’s basic human decency. Unity starts with treating humans like fellow humans. Come on, Czechia,” she wrote on X, throwing her support behind Czechia ahead of their clash with South Africa.
Her comments have since sparked discussion online, with many users weighing in on the relationship between sports, national identity, and xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals living in South Africa.
The exchange comes amid heightened emotions surrounding South Africa’s participation in the World Cup, as debates over football loyalties and broader social issues continue to dominate conversations across the continent.
