Currently tied with Rwanda at the top of Group C on seven points after four matches, coach Hugo Broos’ charges will resume their World Cup qualifiers at home to Lesotho and away to Benin in March 2025.

Bafana earlier this week capped off the year with an impressive 3-0 win over Sudan, and Williams – a key member of Bafana's 1996 AFCON-winning side, is optimistic about the team's prospects for the global stage.

"Listen, if I was the coach, I was probably going to answer that, but it's a tough thing because everyone wants to play in the World Cup," said Williams.

"I think it's there for the taking, they've got a couple of difficult away results that they'll need to get, but at the end of the day it's all about their belief."

Williams also praised Broos for his exceptional management of the national team, expressing confidence that the Belgian mentor is the ideal person to lead Bafana.

"In saying that, I think Hugo Broos has been doing a brilliant job. I thought his time is overdue because he's one of the longest-serving coaches there," he added.

"But now you can see they understand one another, the players and the coach are together, and that's why we can see glimpses of success, and that's a good sign."

‘The Nation Builder’ believes talent alone won't be enough for Bafana to secure a spot in the 2026 showpiece, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

"It's not just about talent, but it's also about belief – it's about faith, and also about team spirit, and that's what I'm seeing glimpses of, so if we can have that and put it together then we're on our way to qualifying, but it's a long way to go," he concluded.

READ: Broos not losing sleep over four-month international break

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