With a few days to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers between Nigeria and South Africa, South Africa’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Lindi Mminele, has said football should be and remain a friendly competition and not war, but centred on teams’ competencies cum display of football superiority.
The envoy made the statement during a courtesy visit to the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Sanusi Mohammed, on Monday in Abuja.
Three-time African champions, Super Eagles of Nigeria and Banana Bafana of South Africa are in group C of the World qualifiers, with South Africa topping the group with 13 points and Nigeria on 7 points after six games.
According to Mminele, Nigeria and South Africa share cordial bilateral relationships that extend beyond the round leather game, as she also appreciates the gesture by the Nigerian football family.
She said, “Nigeria and South Africa have friendly and cordial relationships bilaterally, it’s also been attested by the bi-national commission we have between the two states.
“But when it comes to the sporting world, I’d like to say, indeed it’s not a war, it’s just a friendly competition that shows our competencies, it’s a win this time and a loss the other time and at the end of the day we’re still brothers and we have a relationship that extends beyond the game. Whether you win today or lose tomorrow, at the end of the day, we’re still going to shake hands.
“I’m really overwhelmed by the warm gesture being extended to me, I feel honoured to be seen as one of the daughters of the soil, and I am really proud and pleased to say thank you.”
Sporting Tribune reports that discussions between the South African envoy and NFF’s General Secretary centred around visa procurement for Super Eagles players and officials ahead of the all-important World Cup qualifiers, with the Deputy High Commissioner assuring NFF of a seamless process.
The NFF scribe, who gifted Mminele a branded, custom-made Nigeria national team jersey, thanked her for the visit.
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