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South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has declared that helium does not privation the Super Eagles of Nigeria to suffice for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during an interrogation with Radio 947 successful Johannesburg, McKenzie accused Nigeria of attempting to undermine South Africa’s qualification campaign.
The remark comes amid increasing hostility betwixt some nations pursuing a melodramatic World Cup qualifying group.
South Africa faced a large setback erstwhile FIFA deducted 3 points from their tally for fielding an ineligible subordinate — a punishment that initially jeopardized their automatic qualification hopes.
Nigeria took vantage of the concern by winning their last 2 radical matches to enactment successful contention for the apical spot.
However, South Africa yet clinched the Group C summons with a 3-0 triumph implicit Rwanda connected the last day, sealing their spot astatine the World Cup for the archetypal clip since 2010.
Nigeria, connected the different hand, present faces a pugnacious way done the continental playoffs to support their qualification hopes live — a imaginable McKenzie says helium powerfully opposes.
“I heard you saying earlier that we [South Africa] were rooting besides for Nigeria,” helium said.
“I privation to marque it precise wide that I privation for them not to suffice [for the 2026 FIFA World Cup].”
The 51-year-old erstwhile gangster-turned-minister claimed Nigeria worked against South Africa’s World Cup ambitions, insisting that his stance is simply a effect to perceived hostility.
“I knew what they did down the scenes for america not to get determination (qualify for the World Cup). I privation them to lose; they volition not spell to the World Cup, and different African state indispensable go,” helium added.
“It’s not that [I don’t similar Nigeria]. I springiness the vigor you give, they don’t similar america and we don’t similar them, that is all.
“It is not personal. It’s similar [the rivalry] betwixt [Kaiser] Chiefs and [Orlando] Pirates.”
Nigeria volition look Gabon successful the continental playoff successful November, and if successful, they volition beforehand to a last clash against either Congo DR oregon Cameroon for a accidental to correspond Africa astatine the intercontinental playoff.
The station I privation Nigeria won’t suffice for 2026 World Cup – South Africa Minister appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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