How Did Williams Stun Egypt to Win Africa’s Best Player Award?

Egypt's hopes were crushed when South Africa's Ronwen Williams surprisingly won the 2024 Best African Player of the Year award at the CAF Awards in Marrakech. The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper beat two Egyptian stars, Hussein El Shahat from Al Ahly and Ahmed Sayed "Zizo" from Zamalek, to win this important prize.

Williams' remarkable international season was a major factor in his triumph, as he also won the title of Best Goalkeeper. The goalkeeper's outstanding efforts at the Africa Cup of Nations were a major factor in his recognition, even if Sundowns did not win any trophies the previous season. South Africa's third-place finish was largely due to Williams' incredible penalty-saving performance against Cape Verde in the quarterfinals, when he stopped four penalties to secure his country's berth in the semifinals.

In addition, Williams became the first goalkeeper in Africa Cup of Nations history to keep a clean sheet in four consecutive matches. His remarkable consistency helped him stand out among the likes of Zizo and El Shahat, who enjoyed successful domestic seasons, winning continental titles with their clubs.

Williams' award came amid controversy, particularly as Egyptian fans believed the accolade should have gone to one of their own players, especially given the dominance of Al Ahly and Zamalek in African football last season.

At 32 years old, this player started his career in the youth teams of Tottenham. Later, he moved to SuperSport United and finally joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2022. He first played for South Africa's national team in 2014, even though his debut was a tough 5-0 loss against Brazil. Today, he is recognized as one of Africa's top players, making 2022 a very special year for both his club and his country.