Afcon: South Africa slams Nigeria for football safety warning

Nigeria and South Africa have found themselves in the middle of a diplomatic dispute ahead of their semi-final clash at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday. 

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa cautioned Nigerian football fans against excessive celebrations should their team emerge victorious.

The warning was intended to prevent the provocation of xenophobic attacks by frustrated South African supporters.

However, South Africa dismisses these concerns as unfounded, branding them as a “false alarm.”

The longstanding rivalry between the two football powerhouses—the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana—is well-known.

Nonetheless, in a statement released on Tuesday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) asserted that there is “no track record of soccer-related violence among South Africans” during matches against Nigeria.

“We are confident that the sports-loving nation of South Africa poses no threat to Nigerian citizens, and we do not agree with the apprehension expressed by the High Commission,” Dirco added.

“The advisory is regrettable because it seems to create alarm and unnecessary tension between the citizens of South Africa and Nigerians living in or visiting South Africa.”