Xulu's remarks come as South Africa prepares to face DR Congo in the third-place decider of AFCON 2023.
After losing to Nigeria in the semifinals through penalty kicks on Wednesday, the Bafana Bafana will now compete against DR Congo on Saturday for the third-place position.
"We had a clear objective as a team. We aimed to go as far as possible," Xulu stated during the pre-game press conference.
He further emphasized the team's belief in their abilities, particularly acknowledging the unwavering support from their coach.
South Africa concluded the group stage of AFCON 2023 as runners-up in Group E, securing four points with victories over Namibia and a draw against Tunisia, but suffering a loss against Mali.
In the round of 16, they triumphed over Morocco with a 2-0 win and secured a hard-fought spot in the semifinals by defeating Cape Verde in a penalty shootout.
This marked South Africa's first appearance in the semifinals since 2000.
"Reaching the semifinals is a dream come true," Siyanda Xulu expressed.
While their ultimate goal of winning the tournament could not be realized, Xulu believes the team's performance is a source of pride.
"We may not have brought the trophy home, but we can hold our heads high," concluded the South African defender.
Check the AFCON matches
Check the AFCON stats
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)