Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's minister of sports, arts, and culture
Photo credit: Shelley Christians
Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s minister of sports, arts, and culture, says he does not want Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
McKenzie spoke during an interview with Radio 947 in Johannesburg, where he accused Nigeria of attempting to sabotage South Africa’s own recent qualification campaign.
The backdrop to the tension is a dramatic World Cup qualifying group. South Africa suffered a significant setback when FIFA deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player, a penalty that initially put their automatic qualification in jeopardy.
Nigeria, capitalising on the situation, won their final two matches to push for the top spot.
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However, South Africa ultimately secured the Group C ticket and an automatic berth with a 3-0 victory over Rwanda on the final day, qualifying for their first World Cup since 2010.
Nigeria, meanwhile, was forced into a continental playoff path. The Super Eagles must now win a series of high-stakes matches to secure one of the final spots for the global tournament, a scenario McKenzie hopes must not happen.
The 51-year-old stated that the South African nation does not support Nigeria’s World Cup dreams, and hopes the Eric Chelle-coached team fails in the playoffs.
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“I heard you saying earlier that we [South Africa] were rooting also for Nigeria,” he said.
“I want to make it very clear that I wish for them not to qualify [for the 2026 FIFA World Cup].”
McKenzie, a former gangster turned minister, claimed Nigeria worked against South Africa’s qualification hopes hence the reason he hopes Super Eagles don’t qualify for the prestigious tournament.
“I knew what they did behind the scenes for us not to get there (qualify for the World Cup). I want them to lose; they will not go to the World Cup, and another African country must go,” he added.
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“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 is not personal. It’s like [the rivalry] between [Kaiser] Chiefs and [Orlando] Pirates.”
Nigeria will face Gabon in the continental playoff tournament in November, with a win taking the Super Eagles into the final where they must defeat either Congo DR or Cameroon to clinch the sole slot to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoff.
Failure would see Nigeria miss consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time since 1994.
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