South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has stirred controversy after saying he does not want Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on Johannesburg’s Radio 947, McKenzie claimed his stance was in response to what he described as Nigeria’s “behind-the-scenes” attempts to frustrate South Africa’s qualification campaign.
“I heard you saying earlier that we were also rooting for Nigeria,” he said. “Let me make it clear — I wish for them not to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.”
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The minister’s remarks follow a tense qualification series that saw South Africa and Nigeria battling closely for a spot in the tournament. South Africa’s campaign nearly fell apart when FIFA deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player, a setback that allowed Nigeria to close the gap by winning their remaining two matches.
Despite the pressure, Bafana Bafana sealed their qualification with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Rwanda, marking their return to the World Cup for the first time since hosting it in 2010. Nigeria, meanwhile, must now fight through the continental playoffs to keep their hopes alive.
“I know what they did behind the scenes to stop us,” McKenzie alleged. “I want them to lose. Let another African country go to the World Cup.”
He, however, clarified that his comments were not born of personal hatred but reflected a long-standing sporting rivalry. “It’s not that I don’t like Nigeria,” he said. “It’s just football rivalry—like Chiefs and Pirates. They don’t like us, and we don’t like them.”
Nigeria will face Gabon in November’s continental playoff. A win would see the Super Eagles move on to a decisive clash against either Congo DR or Cameroon for a place in the intercontinental playoff and a shot at the 2026 World Cup.
