Nigerian football administrator Amaju Melvin Pinnick has called out South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie for the latter’s comments against the West African nation.
The straight-talking McKenzie caused a stir during his interview with Marawa Sports Worldwide some days ago, saying he is against Nigeria qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup via the play-off route.
Mckenzie’s comments stem from suggestions that Nigeria was leading the charge for Bafana Bafana to be docked points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.
FIFA finally acted, and Bafana Bafana lost the points, but Hugo Broos’ men still crossed the line first ahead of Nigeria to qualify.
Nigeria will meet Gabon in the play-off semi-finals in Morocco next month, while DR Congo will take on Cameroon in the other clash. All these countries made it to the play-offs by virtue of being the best second-placed teams from the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Mckenzie said, “I want Nigeria to lose (in the playoffs). They must not go to the World Cup. Another African country must go.”
Pinnick did not waste any time lashing out at McKenzie, telling Nigeria’s This Day publication that McKenzie’s “careless” outburst was surprising.
“If it is the wish of God that Nigeria should qualify for the World Cup, the South African sports minister’s careless statement cannot stop it from happening. It is unfortunate to have someone like McKenzie appointed a minister in a developed, civilised country like South Africa. I know several people in South Africa who are knowledgeable in football matters who will not speak with such hatred like McKenzie,” said Pinnick, who is a serving Deputy Chairperson of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee.
“For instance, SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, is a respected football voice worldwide who will not go that route of hate. Dr Jordaan can never speak such careless statements about wishing Nigeria bad. The CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, who is my boss, is another fine gentleman, deeply rooted in continental and global football matters,” continued Pinnick.
“These two gentlemen and several others know the consequences of fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier. The South African sports minister should just shut up instead of embarrassing the country with his careless, unfounded statements against Nigeria.”
He added, “In 2018, FIFA deducted three points and three goals from Nigeria’s total points. We didn’t blame anyone because we knew we were at fault. NFF, or our sports minister at the time, didn’t blame anybody or any country because we knew we were at fault.
“The South African Football Association (SAFA), I am sure, are aware that it was their mistake and have owned up to the error. Why then should a sports minister decide to put the blame for the consequences on Nigeria?”
