04 February 2024 , 00:00
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Ronwen Williams was South Africa's hero in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, saving four of Cape Verde's five spot-kicks as the Bafana Bafana prevailed in a penalty shoot-out.
Hugo Broos' team went into the tournament in Cote d'Ivoire as one of the lower-ranked sides but have earned their place in the final four. After claiming second spot in their group behind Mali, they stunned World Cup semi-finalists Morocco to set up a meeting with fellow surprise package Cape Verde in the quarters.
Williams earned a fourth clean sheet of the tournament, with he and his team-mates keeping their opponents at bay for 120 minutes with one particularly impressive save to tip Gilson Benchimol's effort onto the woodwork. However, it was in the shoot-out where the captain really earned his stripes.
Bebe, Willy Semedo and Laros Duarte all shot to Williams' right, and all saw their efforts kept out by the 32-year-old. Two South Africans missed and Bryan Teixeira scored for Cape Verde, meaning Patrick Andrade had a chance to keep South Africa's opponents in with a chance, but he too couldn't find a way past the keeper.
Before the quarter-final on Saturday, no goalkeeper had saved a penalty in any AFCON shoot-out in the current edition of the tournament. Senegal's Moussa Niakhate hit the post in his team's elimination, while three players - including Egypt keeper Gabaski - failed to hit the target in the Pharaohs' defeat to DR Congo, but every other shoot-out penalty had been scored.
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Williams had also faced a penalty in the round of 16 against Morocco. In that game, though, Achraf Hakimi hit the bar with his effort and it proved costly.
Next up for South Africa is a semi-final against Nigeria. The Super Eagles beat Angola 1-0 in their quarter-final on Friday, with Ademola Lookman scoring the only goal of the game.
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Williams was embraced by his team-mates after South Africa's win (AFP via Getty Images)The other semi-final will see host nation Cote d'Ivoire take on DR Congo, who themselves came from behind to beat Guinea on Friday night. The Ivorians were handed a Saturday kick-off against Mali, shaking off the dismissal of Odilon Kossounou to take the game to extra-time, where Oumar Diakite scored a last-gasp winner.
“The supporters did what they had to do and since this tournament started, we have seen the support of Ivorians, they have been pushing," Diakite said. "Today, we had a difficult time in the game including the red card, but they continued to push us and for us as players, when things begin to go like that, we only have the option to give our very best and look out for the victory and it is the reason why we were the winners."
If Cote d'Ivoire are going to make it to the final, they will have to do so without Diakite as well as Kossounou. The goalscorer picked up a second yellow card for his celebrations after the winner, and will be suspended for the semi.