South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has openly stated that he does not want Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
McKenzie made these remarks during a radio interview, accusing Nigerian football officials of secretly working against South Africa’s own qualification campaign.
This public declaration highlights the tensions that arose between the two nations during a competitive qualifying group.
The rivalry intensified when South Africa was penalized by FIFA, briefly jeopardizing their chances. Nigeria capitalized on this, but South Africa ultimately clinched first place in the group, securing their World Cup spot.
Nigeria finished second and must now win a difficult continental playoff to qualify.
“I want to make it very clear that I wish for them not to qualify,” McKenzie stated, alleging behind-the-scenes efforts by Nigeria to hinder South Africa.
He clarified that his comments were not personal but reflective of a fierce sporting rivalry, comparing it to a classic local derby.
Nigeria’s path to the World Cup now depends on winning a playoff tournament in November against other African nations.
Failure would mean the Super Eagles miss their second consecutive World Cup.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
