I Don’t Want Nigeria To Qualify For 2026 World Cup – South Africa Minister

The Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture from South Africa, whose name is Gayton McKenzie, has publicly announced that he really does not desire for the Super Eagles team from Nigeria to make it through to the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup tournament.

During a conversation that took place in an interview on Radio 947 located in Johannesburg, McKenzie made allegations against Nigeria, claiming that they were attempting to undermine the qualification attempts made by South Africa, and he explained that his position on this matter was simply a response to something he referred to as interference happening “behind-the-scenes.”

“I heard you saying earlier that we [South Africa] were rooting also for Nigeria,” McKenzie said during the interview. “I want to make it very clear that I wish for them not to qualify [for the 2026 FIFA World Cup].”

These remarks from the minister are emerging at a time when there is increased friction and strain between the two countries, right after an intense and exciting campaign for qualifying in the World Cup. The advancement of South Africa came close to being completely disrupted after FIFA took away three points from them because they had included a player who was not eligible, which put their chances of getting an automatic spot in serious danger. Nigeria took full advantage of this misfortune by securing victories in their final pair of matches within the group, which maintained the intense competition directed at South Africa for claiming the leading position.

Nevertheless, South Africa in the end managed to clinch the spot from Group C thanks to a convincing victory by a score of 3-0 against the team from Rwanda during the very last day of matches, which confirmed their participation in the World Cup event, marking the initial occasion since the year 2010. In the meantime, Nigeria is currently dealing with a challenging pathway that involves going through the playoffs on the continental level in order to remain in the running for qualification.

“I knew what they did behind the scenes for us not to get there (qualify for the World Cup),” McKenzie claimed. “I want them to lose; they will not go to the World Cup, and another African country must go.”

He made it clear that the statements he was making were not based on any personal feelings but instead were a representation of a rivalry that exists in the realm of competition. “It’s not that [I don’t like Nigeria]. I give the energy you give; they don’t like us and we don’t like them, that is all. It’s not personal. It’s like [the rivalry] between [Kaizer] Chiefs and [Orlando] Pirates.”

The team from Nigeria is scheduled to compete against Gabon during the playoff at the continental level sometime in the month of November. Should they emerge as the winners, they are going to proceed forward to participate in one last confrontation facing off against either the Democratic Republic of Congo or the team from Cameroon, all for an opportunity to serve as Africa’s representative in the playoff that spans across different continents.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli