‘Just Shut Up’ - Ex-Nigeria Football Boss Fires Back at South African Minister for Wishing Super Eagles World Cup Doom

Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has hit back at South Africa’s Sports Minister who said he wants the Super Eagles out of the 2026 World Cup.

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss Amaju Pinnick has fired back at South Africa’s Sports Minister following his sentiments that he would want to see Nigeria miss the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria did South Africa a great favour, when they thrashed Benin 4-0 in their final qualifier, with Bafana Bafana’s path getting cleared after their 3-0 thrashing of Rwanda to clinch the direct ticket to the World Cup.

They came into the match with their backs against the wall after being docked three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho and needed to win while hoping for a favour from Nigeria to claim the sole direct World Cup ticket.

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Nigeria, meanwhile, secured one of the four playoff slots with the win but South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie later said he would wish that the Super Eagles miss out on the World Cup, claiming the West Africans were behind the push to have Bafana Bafana punished when FIFA seemed to have sidestepped the matter.

Pinnick Unhappy with ‘Careless’ SA Sports Minister

“I wish them not to qualify. I knew what they did behind the scenes for us not to get there [World Cup],” McKenzie told South African broadcaster Robert Marawa. “I want them to lose. They must not go to the World Cup and another African country must go.”

However, Pinnick, who is now Deputy Chairperson of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, replied terming McKenzie an “embarrassment” to South Africa while telling him to keep off football matters.

“If it is the wish of God that Nigeria should qualify for the World Cup, the South African sports minister’s careless statement cannot stop it from happening,” Pinnick told Nigerian outlet THISDAY.

“It is unfortunate to have someone like McKenzie appointed a minister in a developed, civilized country like South Africa. I know several people in South Africa who are knowledgeable in football matters who will not speak with such hatred like McKenzie.

McKenzie Termed an ‘Ingrate’ by Ex-NFF Boss

“For instance, SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, is a respected football voice worldwide who will not go that route of hate. Dr Jordaan can never speak such careless statement about wishing Nigeria bad. The CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe who is my boss is another fine gentleman, deeply rooted in continental and global football matters.

“These two gentlemen and several others know the consequences of fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier. The South African sports minister should just shut up instead of embarrassing the country with his careless, unfounded statements against Nigeria,” he added.

The former CAF vice president says McKenzie is being ungrateful after such a favour from Nigeria and should be directing his anger at those who made the mistake of fielding an ineligible player instead of blaming the country that helped Bafana Bafana qualify.

“I will rather say that this minister is an ingrate for not thanking Super Eagles for defeating Benin Republic in Uyo,” said Pinnick. “He didn’t realize that if Benin had won or drawn the match in Uyo, South Africa will not be the beneficiary of the Group C direct qualification ticket for the World Cup.”