South African authorities have responded to claims that Nigerians dwelling in or visiting the nation should not protected, as each international locations put together to face off within the AFCON 2023 semi-finals on Wednesday.
The Excessive Fee of Nigeria in Pretoria stated in an announcement {that a} part of South African residents might have made inflammatory on-line feedback in opposition to Nigerians dwelling in South Africa.
“A lot of the feedback embody veiled threats in opposition to 'Nigerians cooking jollof rice' earlier than the match, and 'exhibiting pepper to Nigerians if the Bafana Bafana loses to the Tremendous Eagles',” the advisory warned.
Responding to the recommendation, South Africa's head of public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, described the threats as unlucky.
“This can be a very unlucky and regrettable assertion by our Nigerian associates. It creates pointless unrest and rigidity,” he wrote on X.
Monyela stated each groups have confronted one another many instances and there’s no hooliganism amongst South Africans in opposition to Nigerians.
“South Africans🇿🇦 should not a menace to Nigerians. We are going to additional interact our Nigerian colleagues on this by diplomatic channels. Completely pointless!”
This would be the fourth assembly between Nigeria and South Africa throughout the AFCON.
Within the three earlier encounters, the Tremendous Eagles have emerged winners in all matches. The final time the 2 groups met within the semifinals was at AFCON 2000, the place the Eagles gained 2-0.
