AFCON: South Africans will attack Nigerians, xenophobia not football – Peterside

Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Idah Peterside, has claimed that South Africans will attack Nigerians if the Super Eagles defeat the Bafana Bafana or not at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Perterside said this while reacting to the advisory that was recently issued by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria for its citizens residing in South Africa.

Recall that the advisory published on Monday referred to “potentially inflammatory” online comments by a section of South Africans made against Nigerians living in the country leading to the AFCON semi-final.

The High Commission, which is based in Pretoria, South Africa, also warned Nigerians to be alert and be of good conduct before, during and after the match.

However, speaking on the development on Channels Television ahead of Wednesday’s AFCON semi-final tie between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana, Perterside insisted that there is a rivalry of supremacy between both nations, adding that it is political.

According to him, it is xenophobia, not just football.

“The circular was sent to me. This is not the first time we’ve been harassed. But there is still this unwritten rivalry between these nations” Perterside said.

“This rivalry is about supremacy. It is not just in football, it is political. On a lighter note, their women like us more than their men and there is this rivalry, it is beyond football. It has happened so many times and again we cannot take this for granted.”

He added, “If we win, they will attack us. If they win, they will attack us. It is not football, it is xenophobia.”