A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Nigeria and South Africa ahead of their semi-final match at the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for Wednesday.
The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has cautioned Nigerian football enthusiasts to refrain from exuberant celebrations should their team emerge victorious.
This advisory aims to forestall any potential incitement of xenophobic incidents by aggrieved South African supporters.
However, South Africa contends that such a warning has only generated unfounded apprehension.
The longstanding rivalry between the football powerhouses—the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana—is well-documented.
In its declaration on Tuesday, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) asserted that there is “no precedent of soccer hooliganism 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.”
Nigeria has yet to respond to the statement from South African officials.
In recent years, South Africa has seen a wave of xenophobic attacks against Africans who have moved there from elsewhere in the continent, often for better economic opportunities.
In its statement earlier on Tuesday, Nigeria’s diplomatic service said it was issuing the warning because it had seen evidence of “veiled threats” by South Africans online.
It advised Nigerians living in South Africa 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”.
Kick-off is at 17:00 GMT on Wednesday in the Ivorian city of Bouaké.
The other semi-final is between the hosts Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
