South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has stirred diplomatic and sporting tensions by publicly stating that he hopes Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The comment, reportedly made during a media interaction, has drawn sharp reactions from Nigerian fans and officials.
McKenzie’s remarks come amid growing rivalry between the two nations in football and other sports. Nigeria and South Africa are both vying for qualification in the CAF zone, and tensions have been heightened by recent matchups and political undertones.
While some South African supporters echoed McKenzie’s sentiment, others criticized the statement as unsportsmanlike and divisive. Nigerian sports analysts have called for focus and unity ahead of the qualifiers, urging the Super Eagles to respond on the pitch.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has yet to issue an official response.
