By Ola Kay
The South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has expressed his desire for the Super Eagles of Nigeria notto qualify for the 2026 World Cup, saying he prefers another African country.
The S/A Minister of Sports stated this in connection to Nigeria’s role in his country’s challenging and tough qualifying efforts.
Recall that , the South Africa’s team ran foul of the rules, for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho, leading to deduction of three points and three goals from the Bafana Bafana.
Following the development, Nigeria joined few other countries to protest and demanded that FIFA applied sanction.
Despite the challenges, the team eventually finished top of Group C, and went a point ahead of the Super Eagles.
“I heard you earlier saying that we (South Africa) will also root for Nigeria,” McKenzie said in an interview shared on X by South African journalist Robert Marawa.
“I want to make it very clear: I wish for them not to qualify. I just want to make that one clear. They tried… I knew what they did behind the scenes. I want them to lose.”
Continuing, McKenzie declared his mind stating that, “Nigeria must not go to the World Cup. Another African country must go.”
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