Nigeria urges its citizens to be cautious in South Africa as tensions rise ahead of football match

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian officials on Tuesday called for caution over what they described as a “veiled threat” against its citizens living in South Africa ahead of the two countries’ clash in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal Tuesday — a The football match that is increasing the friction again.

The two countries have already endured years of rivalry, more so because they have Africa’s largest entertainment industries rather than the continent’s largest economies.

But tensions are now rising in football terms as Nigeria and South Africa prepare to play their semi-final matches in Ivory Coast on Wednesday.

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa said in a statement that some South Africans were making “inflammatory online comments” against Nigerians, most of which were “veiled threats”.

The commission urged Nigerian citizens in South Africa to “watch what you say, be careful about where they choose to watch the match… and avoid being loud, riotous or provocative when the Super Eagles (the nickname of the Nigeria team) Avoid attending gatherings.” Win the (semi-final) match.”

South African officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.

The rivalry between the two countries escalated on Sunday when South African sensation Tayla defeated four other Nigerian contestants to win the title. Best African Music Performance Grammy With his song “Water”. Tyla’s win was a “big win for Africa”, Nigerian artist Davido and other nominees for the category tweeted congratulating her.

Football and music fans from both countries look forward to the next stage of the rivalry in Wednesday’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

Nigeria and South Africa are clashing in a repeat of the 2000 semi-final, which Nigeria won 2–0. Nigeria won the last of its three Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2013, while South Africa’s only win came in 1996.

Mogomotsi Magome contributed to this report from Johannesburg.

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