South Africa captain Ronwen Williams has expressed disappointment at what he described as a lack of support from fellow African nations following Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match on Thursday night.

The result leaves South Africa with work to do in Group A as they pursue a place in the knockout rounds.

Speaking after the match, Williams admitted he was surprised by the volume of African football fans who appeared to back Mexico rather than an African representative on the global stage, and called for greater unity among Africans during major tournaments.

“Africans have always supported other African countries in every World Cup tournament, but I can’t figure out why our own case is different,” Williams said. “Many Africans supported Mexico, not us, the South Africans. We almost shed tears, but it’s truly sad.”

As Africans, let’s stand for each other, let’s stand together.”

While some supporters sympathised with the goalkeeper’s sentiments and agreed that African nations should rally behind one another at international competitions, others offered a contrasting view.

Several social media users from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe argued that recurring reports of xenophobic attacks on African migrants in South Africa have weakened the sense of continental solidarity, with several referencing past incidents involving foreign nationals living in the country as having shaped how other Africans view South Africa.

Some openly stated that they had supported Mexico in the match, citing those tensions as a factor in their decision.

The United States said Wednesday it would ease its system of demanding bond payments from visa applicants for certain fans seeking to come for the World Cup.

Under one of President Donald Trump’s many initiatives to crack down on migration, the United States has begun asking people from 50 developing countries to hand over anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa, refundable once they return home.

The State Department said it would waive the bonds for team members competing in World Cup matches in the United States, as well as for fans from competing countries who already have tickets and signed up for a priority system set up for visas.

“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs.

She said the Trump administration wanted to organize the “biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.”

“Today’s announcement from the US State Department further demonstrates our ongoing collaboration with the US Government and the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking, and unforgettable global event,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement.

Five countries that qualified for the World Cup are among those whose nationals are required to pay visa bonds: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia.

At least two other countries that have qualified for the soccer showcase have seen nearly total bans on entry into the United States under Trump: Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and Iran, which the United States and Israel attacked on February 28.

The Trump administration has also sharply expanded scrutiny for visitors from friendly Western countries, requiring them to provide access for the US government to look through their social media postings.

A study by the Mendoza Law Firm found that Haiti could play its matches with virtually no fans traveling from the country due to the restrictions.

It said that in the five qualifying countries affected by the visa bonds, $15,000 is equivalent to an average of three years of income.

The World Cup, which kicks off June 11, is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

AFP

FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and the leading financial inclusion service provider, has announced its strategic sponsorship of the second edition of ChessMasters, Africa’s largest school chess tournament. The announcement was made at the official press conference of the tournament held on 16 March 2026 at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

ChessMasters is an annual chess tournament designed to equip the next generation with critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The competition targets children in primary school aged between 6 and 11 years old. Organised by Eko Hotels and Suites & KEY Academy, ChessMasters was created to provide thousands of children across Nigeria with opportunities to develop modern educational skills, bringing schools together on a national stage.

Speaking at the press conference, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications at FirstBank, said, “Our sponsorship of ChessMasters 2026 reflects our commitment to building talents and communities, driving inclusion, and deepening engagement through our First@Sports initiative, a platform that celebrates talent and promotes social impact through sports. With over a century of supporting legacy sports in Nigeria, we are proud of our enduring partnerships  – 105 years with the Georgian Cup, 65 years with the Lagos Amateur Golf Championship and 35 years with the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship.”

Ijabiyi further highlighted how the sponsorship aligns with FirstBank’s sustainability pillars of Education, Health, and Welfare. “We recognise the potential of chess to help school-age children challenge themselves, think critically, and compete at the highest level, hence we see the tournament as a launchpad for a pan-African movement leveraging chess as a tool for education, empowerment, and leadership development. We are utilising this platform as another avenue to promote social impact and drive positive change in the community.”

Caline Chagoury Moudabar, Director and Co- Founder of ChessMasters and her partner, Damilola Okonkwo of Key Academy, expressed appreciation for FirstBank’s support, noting that the partnership will help scale the impact of ChessMasters and inspire more schools to participate. “We are happy to welcome FirstBank on board. This collaboration will boost chess development in Nigeria and promote critical thinking among young minds. With support from partners like FirstBank, we are opening the doors of participation to more children and more schools in this year’s edition.”

Prince Adeyinka Adewole, Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, commended the initiative, emphasising its role in nurturing future chess talents. “Chess connects people, ideas, and opportunities. It teaches children to be analytical, patient, and to manage their time and resources effectively. Chess also improves concentration and has been particularly beneficial for children with autism.”

The second edition of ChessMasters will be held on Saturday, 2 May 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The competition is open to 150 schools across Lagos, with over 700 students expected to participate and vie for a total prize pool of N10 million.

FirstBank’s involvement in the 2026 edition of the tournament reinforces ChessMasters’ potential to serve as a launchpad for African children, leveraging chess as a tool for education, empowerment, and leadership development.