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South Africa’s sports minister has revealed that the national team anticipated no backing from fellow African nations during their 2026 FIFA World Cup clash with Mexico after social media users across the continent openly cheered for the opposition.
Gayton McKenzie responded on Friday to a BBC report documenting the absence of continental solidarity online, where many fans from other African countries celebrated Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Bafana Bafana.
Some called it a “hate watch” – a reaction tied to lingering anger over migration policies and alleged xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“We had zero expectations from any other nations to support Bafana Bafana,” McKenzie wrote on X.
“If your country didn’t qualify for the World Cup you have every right to support whoever you like.”
We had zero expectations from any other nations to support Bafana Bafana. If your country didn’t qualify for the World Cup you have every right to support whoever you like. https://t.co/WxlClWpeZl
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) June 12, 2026
South Africa, appearing in their first World Cup since 2010, took on co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in their Group A opener.
While a handful of African fans did rally behind the squad, a significant portion openly rooted for Mexico – a reflection of strained inter-African relations.
The match ended in disappointment for the South Africans, with Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez finding the net for Mexico.
After the final whistle, mocking posts flooded social media platforms. Still, some South Africans defended their team, praising their effort and fighting spirit.
In the days leading up to the match, some African football supporters explained their pro-Mexico stance by pointing to ongoing tensions over migration in South Africa.
“You want people to cheer for you when you play soccer just because we’re African?” one X user asked, referencing reports of mistreatment of foreign nationals.
Another posted: “We’re supporting Mexico so that South Africa can go back home early to protect their jobs,” echoing the unfounded claim that immigrants are responsible for the country’s high unemployment rate.
