South African Sports Minister Upset With Nigeria: “They Must Not Go to the World Cup”
- Nigeria heads to the play-offs, and South Africa's sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has wished doom for the Super Eagles
- Bafana Bafana have confirmed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having finished top of CAF group C ahead of Nigeria and Benin
- The Super Eagles will take on Gabon, while Cameroon will face off with DR Congo, as one more African team can qualify for the global showpiece
South Africa's sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, has stated that the Super Eagles of Nigeria must not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana Bafana have picked a ticket to the global showpiece after edging Nigeria and Benin to the automatic ticket in the CAF qualification Group C.
South Africa thrashed Rwanda 3-0 on the final day of the campaign to finish top of the group with 18 points, while Nigeria's 4-0 win over Benin saw them make the play-offs.
Source: Getty Images
CAF has confirmed that the mini-tournament will take place in Morocco in November 2025, using a ruthless knockout format - two semi-finals and a final.
Nigeria will take on Gabon, while Cameroon will face off with DR Congo, and the winners of each semifinal will meet in the final, per Afrik Foot.
The ultimate winner will then proceed to the intercontinental play-offs, where they will have a chance to pick a ticket to the Mundial.
South Africa qualified despite forfeiting three points and three goals in the qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.
Mamelodi Sundowns star Teboho Mokoena had received yellow cards in two matches before that game against the Crocodile, and they were sanctioned.
McKenzie believes the Super Eagles were behind the ordeal, as FIFA also fined SAFA for breaking the disciplinary code.
Ahead of the play-offs, a visibly furious McKenzie wishes doom for Nigeria. He told journalist Robert Marawa in a viral clip on X:
"I wish them not to qualify. I knew what they did behind the scenes for us not to get there. I want them to lose. They must not go to the World Cup and another African country must go.
"I give the energy you give. They don’t like us, we don’t like them and that is soccer, and it is not personal. It is like Chiefs and Pirates, they do not like each other but it is not personal.”
McKenzie expressed satisfaction with head coach Hugo Broos and his team and called for more support.
He, however, blasted SAFA for failing to punish those responsible for the administrative saga that led to FIFA sanctions.
Source: Getty Images
Eric Chelle will welcome the news of the return of two Super Eagles stars to action after suspensions ahead of the World Cup playoff against Gabon.
Lookman, Okoye to return for Gabon
Legit.ng earlier reported that Atalanta of Italy forward Ademola Lookman is now cleared to return for the Super Eagles in next month's crucial playoff against Gabon in Morocco on November 13.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is also available after serving a two-month ban for breaching fair play rules with a suspicious yellow card.
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Source: Legit.ng
