South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, says his earnest desire is for the Super Eagles of Nigeria not to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria booked a spot in the playoff after a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in their final game of the qualifiers, a result which also helped South Africa to qualify as group leaders to the tournament.
Super Eagles will take part in a four team playoff tournament in Morocco next month, where they will begin their campaign against Gabon for a spot in the final against either Cameroon or Congo Dr who will be involved in the other game of the mini tournament.
The winner will qualify for the intercontinental playoff, where two teams will get a ticket to be at the world cup tournament. Despite what seems like a favour from Nigeria with the win over Benin Republic, Gayton insist that it’s wasn’t a favour and hope that Nigeria fail in the playoff.
“I hear people say Nigeria did us a favour. Don’t they want to go to the World Cup themselves? No, man… everybody for himself”, he said on Marawa live during an interview. The minister then went further, declaring:
“We must support Nigeria to lose. I don’t want them to go to the World Cup. I want to make it very clear. I wish for them not to qualify for the world cup. I just want to make that one clear they tried. I knew what they did behind the scenes. You’re far better man than me. I knew what they did behind the seasoned for us not to get there.
I want them to lose. They must not go to the World Cup. . I give the energy you give. Yeah, they don’t like us. We don’t like them. And that’s soccer. And it’s not personal. Yeah, it’s like Chiefs and Pirates.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
