Tension Rises As South African Minister Boldly Declares: ‘Nigeria Shouldn’t Be At The 2026 World Cup

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has openly declared that he does not want Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reigniting tensions between both nations amid an already heated qualifying campaign.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

McKenzie made the controversial remark during an interview shared on by South African journalist Robert Marawa, where he reacted to Nigeria’s role in a protest that disrupted Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification process.

South Africa were recently docked three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player in their qualifier against Lesotho — a situation that prompted formal complaints from several countries, including Nigeria, urging FIFA to take action.

Although Hugo Broos’ men eventually topped Group C, finishing just one point ahead of Nigeria, the incident clearly left McKenzie displeased.

“I heard you saying earlier that we (South Africa) will also support Nigeria,” McKenzie stated. “Let me make it very clear — I don’t wish for them to qualify. They tried some things behind the scenes. I want them to lose. Nigeria must not go to the World Cup. Let another African nation go.”

Nigeria, who missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, are now determined to secure a spot in the 2026 edition, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They must navigate through the CAF play-offs in November 2025 and potentially the FIFA intercontinental play-offs in March 2026 to book their place.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana have already sealed their qualification, marking their first World Cup appearance since 2010, when South Africa hosted the prestigious tournament.