WATCH: Williams points to Bafana ‘brotherhood’ as reason for AFCON success

Williams spoke at a press conference at O.R Tambo International Airport on Wednesday morning.

Scores of supporters woke up in the early hours of the morning to welcome the national football team back following their successful tournament in Ivory Coast.

Bafana Bafana walked away with the bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), beating the Democratic Republic of Congo 6-5 on penalties in the tournament's third-place play-off on Saturday night.

It was the team’s best performance in the continental showpiece since 2000 when they also managed to reach the final four.

Williams, who was named best goalkeeper at the tournament for his numerous penalty saves,   attributed the team’s success to unity and teamwork.

"It still feels unreal what we have achieved over the last few weeks. We have seen all the messages and all the records that we have broken as a team.

“And, of course, when we are in the moment, thinking of the next game, we don't look for praise or go on and on about these things, you just want to do well in the next game.

 “I am just proud of the boys for the brotherhood we had from day one; the spirit amongst us has been good, and I think it is one of the reasons we have been successful. It was because of the togetherness.

“They make it so easy for me as a captain," said Williams.

Williams admitted it was always going to take something special for Bafana Bafana to win back the hearts of South Africans following years of underperformance.

He said while it was painful to play without the support of South Africans in the past two years, it pushed the team to work hard.

"For years we have done well, but in patches, but the support was still not there. The coach has always emphasised that the support will come with good performances. It had to take something special to get the people back, and I am happy that we managed to do that.

“Like we always say, that we are stronger together. We can’t do it on our own. We need each and every one. To see honourable (EFF leader Julius) Malema sitting here to support us, it’s amazing," he said.

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