JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has stirred up tension across Africa’s football community after openly declaring that he does not want Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during an interview with Johannesburg’s Radio 947, McKenzie accused Nigeria of allegedly working behind the scenes to frustrate South Africa’s qualification chances, describing his stance as payback for what he believes was interference.
I heard you saying earlier that we [South Africa] were also rooting for Nigeria, the minister said. Let me make it very clear I don’t wish for them to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The comments come after a tense qualifying series in which South Africa nearly lost its spot due to a FIFA points deduction for fielding an ineligible player.
Although Nigeria kept the pressure on with back-to-back wins, Bafana Bafana eventually sealed their qualification with a 3–0 victory over Rwanda, marking their return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
I know what they did behind the scenes to stop us from getting there,” McKenzie continued. I want them to lose. They won’t go to the World Cup let another African country go.”
He, however, clarified that his remarks were not personal, describing the Nigeria–South Africa football rivalry as a competitive one.
It’s not that I dislike Nigeria. It’s just rivalry like Chiefs versus Pirates. We don’t like each other on the pitch, but it’s not personal.
Nigeria will face Gabon in the upcoming continental playoffs in November. A win would send the Super Eagles into a final playoff clash against either Congo DR or Cameroon, as they battle for a chance to represent Africa at the intercontinental stage.
