South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria, Linny Mminele has poured cold water on fire that has been building up ahead of the September 9th FIFA World Cup qualifier between both countries, with a verdict that it is not war.
Sports247 reports that Mminele’s statement comes at a point when tension is brewing due to Nigeria’s desperation to win the upcoming away fixture, while also praying for world football governing body, FIFA to deduct the South Africans’ points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.
South Africa currently have 13 points, which would be reduced to ten should FIFA’s hammer fall on them, and Nigeria will fall level with their arch rivals should they win their September 9th fixture in Bloemfontein.
In an apparent understanding of the dire situation of things heading into that match, coupled with past cases of xenophobic attacks by South Africans against prolific Nigerians in their country, Mminele is quickly making preemptive peace moves.
The high commissioner said after a meeting with top shots of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja, “I’m really overwhelmed by the warm gesture that has been extended to me.
“I also earlier had the privilege of watching the girls play when our team, Banyana Banyana, was here.
“It was quite a beautiful game to watch, and I felt really honoured. So, I’ll like to say indeed it’s not a war. It’s just a competition in sports.”
Although at stake are crucial points that would determine tickets to the 2026 Mundial, the first ever to be co-hosted by three countries – USA, Canada and Mexico – Mminele insisted that the September 6th game should be considered in the light of a friendly.
“It’s a friendly competition that can show our competencies. If they win this time, but lost the other time, at the end of the day, we are still brothers, and we still have a sisters’ relationship that will continue beyond the game itself,” Mminele enthused.
