South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has admitted he does not want the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
McKenzie was reacting to Nigeria’s role in his country’s complicated qualifying journey.
Bafana Bafana were deducted three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.
Nigeria was one of the countries that protested and demanded that FIFA took necessary action.
However, Hugo Broos’ team eventually finished top of Group C, one point ahead of the 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.
“Nigeria must not go to the World Cup. Another African country must go.”