After winning the 2023 AFCON Golden Glove accolade, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams has reiterated that the achievement of the 2023 AFCON Goalkeeper of the tournament was simply a team effort.

Williams received the award during the awards ceremony shortly after the final match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé on Sunday night.

The Bafana Bafana captain led South Africa to the bronze medal in the tournament, and led from the front with some brilliant performances as Hugo Broos’ side exceeded expectations.

Among the five clean sheets Williams kept in the tournament, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper also became the first goalkeeper to save four penalties in a penalty shootout against Cape Verde in the quarter-final of the tournament.

While a lot of credit has been given to the 32-years old for also keeping out two DR Congo's penalties in the 3rd/4th playoff match on Saturday, Williams credited the Bafana Bafana defence, which was solid and disciplined throughout the tournament.

"It’s not me alone, I give credit to each, and every player, I don’t do it all by myself and it’s so funny that on Sunday maybe 80% of the players came to me and said Nigeria need to concede so that we can get the Golden Glove award.

I like the fact that they said ‘we’, as much as I am going to get all the praises and obviously the accolade but it’s us and it’s not me, I mean how many saves realistically did I have to make during all the seven matches we played in the tournament? Maybe average two a game at such a massive tournament.

So props to each and every player, especially the defence as well, they were so solid from the first match up until the last, just to keep going, to keep fighting," Williams said.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana also won the Fair Play Award for the sportsmanship throughout the tournament.