Bafana Bafana legend Mark Williams defends Lyle Foster amidst criticism from fans

The 25-year-old Foster, who's on the books of English Premier League outfit Burnley, is odds-on to spearhead Bafana's attack at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), starting from December 22 to January 18 2026, in Morocco. Bafana touched down in their Marrakesh base on Thursday.

Foster, whose eight goals in the Bafana shirt make him the joint top scorer under incumbent coach Hugo Broos alongside Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena, has been under fire when playing for the national team in recent months, with many not convinced by his conversion rate. Foster has scored two goals from 13 Premier League outings this season.

Even so, Williams, a hero of what remains Bafana's only AFCON victory to date, in 1996, has thrown his weight behind Foster.

"I don't think Lyle is playing in the EPL for nothing. He must be good. I always say that people will criticise you because they want to see their players play in the national team... That's what I feel about Lyle's criticism," Williams told SowetanLive.

"He is physical; he can run because he has pace, and he can hold the ball very well, so he is our ideal target man. You can't criticise a player for missing one chance. How many chances does he get? Maybe they are not creating enough chances for him."

Bafana are in Group B with Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe, getting their Afcon campaign underway by facing Angola in Marrakesh on December 22.