Nigerians in South Africa Urged to Exercise Caution and Avoid Wild Celebrations Should Super Eagles Win Bafana Bafana

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The Nigeria High Commission in South Africa has issued a statement advising Nigerians living in South Africa to exercise caution and refrain from engaging in wild celebrations if the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, defeat the South African team, Bafana Bafana, in the semi-final match of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2024. The advisory was prompted by potentially inflammatory online comments made by some South African citizens against Nigerians living in the host country, which were largely influenced by the upcoming match.

The statement emphasizes that Nigerians should be mindful of their words and actions, choose their viewing locations carefully, and avoid engaging in loud, riotous, or provocative celebrations if the Super Eagles win the match. It also calls on Nigerians to maintain their good conduct and abide by the law before, during, and after the match. If any provocations occur, Nigerians are encouraged to report them to the appropriate authorities rather than retaliating.

The warning was issued by the Nigeria’s High Commission in South Africa, in a statement titled: “Advisory on Safe Conduct for Nigerians in South Africa Before, During and After 2024 AFCON Match Between Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana”.

The statement read: “The attention of the Nigeria High Commission Pretoria has been drawn to potentially inflammatory online comments made by a section of South African citizens against Nigerians living in host country, largely influenced by the upcoming 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final match between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana on Wednesday 7th February 2024.

Most of the comments consist of veiled threats against Nigerians cooking jollof rice before the match, and showing pepper to Nigerians if the Bafana Bafana lose to Super Eagles, among others.

In this regard, the High Commission hereby advises the Nigerian community to be watchful of their utterances, be mindful of where they choose to watch the match especially in public places, and refrain from engaging in loud, riotous or provocative celebrations should the Super Eagles win the match.

Additionally, Nigerians should maintain the good conduct they are known for, and be law abiding before, during and after the match. Should any provocations arise, they should not be reciprocated but reported to the appropriate authorities.”

This advisory serves as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of Nigerians in South Africa, considering the potentially tense atmosphere surrounding the football match as football matches can sometimes be a catalyst for heightened emotions and rivalries among fans, which can occasionally lead to confrontations and instances of violence. It is not uncommon for tensions to arise between supporters of opposing teams, and in some cases, this can extend to xenophobic sentiments. Authorities and organizers typically take measures to ensure the safety of fans and minimize the risk of violence, but incidents can still occur.