Chairman of the Unified Supporters Club of Nigeria, Vincent Okumagba, who is also the vice president of the African Football and Sports Supporters Association, has said that the attack on Nigerians in South Africa won’t stop the country’s fan club from supporting Bafana Bafana in their 2026 World Cup opener against hosts, Mexico.

The World Cup, to be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, will begin on June 11 without Nigeria’s Super Eagles, even though Africa has 10 teams in the championship.

In the past few months, some Nigerians and other nationals residing in South Africa have been subjected to xenophobic attacks, with the government yet to do anything to stop them.

These Africans were given until May 31 (last Sunday) to leave South Africa.

But Okumagba told The Guardian on the phone from his base in Canada, yesterday, that although the attacks on Nigerians are indefensible and heartbreaking, there is a need to give Bafana Bafana the support they need to overcome Mexico on June 11.

“We feel the pain of Nigerians in South Africa,” Okumagba said. “However, we must distinguish between the politics of hate and the spirit of the game. If we withdraw support, we let the perpetrators of violence win by killing the very oneness that football is supposed to foster.”

Okumagba continue: “We support the team (Bafana Bafana) not because we ignore the struggle of our people, but because African football is a platform to demand better for all Africans.

“As we intend to support Bafana Bafana and other African teams at the World Cup, we simultaneously demand that the government of South Africa ensure the safety of all Africans on their soil. Nigeria is not competing at this year’s World Cup, but as vice president of the African Football and Sports Supporters Association, our eyes are indeed on the teams representing the continent.

“Whilst the individual countries have their own supporters and their colours, ours is to complement and strengthen the efforts of the official national team supporters, and that’s exactly what we have planned to do. The national supporters deserve their moment to shine and lead the atmosphere. The  African Supporters Association will stand united behind them, creating a powerful display of solidarity, passion, and pride.”