The countdown is almost over.
In just five days, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will officially begin with South Africa taking on Mexico in the tournament’s opening match. For many football fans around the world, it is simply the start of another World Cup. For many Nigerians, however, it presents a far more interesting question.
Who should we support?
Ordinarily, the answer would seem straightforward. South Africa is an African nation. Whenever an African team steps onto the world stage, many Africans instinctively rally behind them. There is a sense of continental pride that goes beyond borders, languages, and politics.
But football is rarely that simple.
The relationship between Nigeria and South Africa has experienced moments of tension over the years. Reports of xenophobic attacks against foreign Africans, including Nigerians, have left painful memories that many people have not forgotten. For some Nigerians, those experiences make it difficult to automatically support South Africa simply because they are African.
Yet there is another side to the argument.
Many believe that football should unite rather than divide. They argue that when an African nation succeeds at the World Cup, it benefits the image of the entire continent. Every victory helps challenge stereotypes and proves that African football can compete with the very best.
The debate raises an interesting question: when South Africa walks onto the pitch against Mexico, will Nigerians see an African representative, or will history influence their emotions?
To answer that question, it is worth looking back at how Africans have traditionally rallied behind fellow African nations whenever they have achieved historic success at the FIFA World Cup.
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Africa’s Greatest World Cup Stories
For decades, Africa dreamed of producing a team capable of competing with the world’s elite. Every time an African nation made a deep run in the tournament, millions across the continent celebrated as though it was their own country playing.
1Cameroon 1990: The Trailblazers
Best World Cup Finish: Quarter-Finals
Cameroon changed everything at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
Led by the legendary Roger Milla, the Indomitable Lions shocked the football world by defeating defending champions Argentina in the opening match. They continued their remarkable journey and became the first African nation ever to reach the quarter-finals of a FIFA World Cup.
Across Africa, Cameroon became everybody’s second national team. Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, and millions of other Africans united behind them because they represented something bigger than themselves. They represented possibility.
Although they eventually lost 3-2 to England after extra time, Cameroon had already rewritten history. Their achievement was so significant that it helped strengthen Africa’s standing within world football.
2Senegal 2002: The Giant Killers
Best World Cup Finish: Quarter-Finals
Twelve years later, Senegal arrived at their first-ever World Cup and immediately stunned the world.
Their opening match was against defending champions France. Few gave them a chance. Senegal responded with a famous 1-0 victory that instantly captured global attention. They eventually reached the quarter-finals, becoming only the second African nation to achieve the feat.
Across Africa, football fans embraced Senegal’s fearless approach. Their success reinforced the belief that African teams could compete against football’s traditional superpowers.
3Ghana 2010: The Team That Carried a Continent
Best World Cup Finish: Quarter-Finals
If there is one African team that truly carried the hopes of an entire continent, it was Ghana in South Africa 2010.
As other African teams exited the tournament, Ghana became the last remaining representative. Millions of Africans rallied behind the Black Stars.
Their quarter-final against Uruguay remains one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history. Ghana came within a penalty kick of becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals. The dream ended heartbreakingly in a penalty shootout, but the support they received from across Africa was extraordinary.
For many Africans, Ghana’s journey felt personal because it represented a shared dream.
4Morocco 2022: The History Makers
Best World Cup Finish: Semi-Finals
Then came Morocco.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Atlas Lions achieved what no African nation had ever done before. They defeated Spain and Portugal on their way to becoming the first African country to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Something remarkable happened during that tournament.
Fans from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Algeria, Egypt, and many other African countries united behind Morocco. Social media was flooded with messages of support. For a few weeks, Morocco carried the dreams of an entire continent.
Although they eventually finished fourth, their achievement remains the greatest World Cup performance by an African nation.
Why Africans Usually Support One Another
There is a reason why African teams often attract support beyond their borders.
When an African nation succeeds at the World Cup, it challenges long-standing perceptions about African football. It creates opportunities for players, coaches, and football administrators across the continent. It also inspires the next generation of young footballers.
Many Nigerians who celebrated Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, Ghana in 2010, and Morocco in 2022 did so because they believed those victories belonged to Africa as a whole.
The South Africa Question
That brings us back to the present.
South Africa enters the 2026 World Cup as one of Africa’s representatives. On football grounds alone, many Africans would naturally want them to succeed.
However, the relationship between South Africa and some other African countries remains complicated. Discussions around xenophobia, migration, and treatment of foreign Africans continue to influence public opinion.
As a result, some Nigerians may find themselves supporting Mexico in the opening match. Others may choose to support South Africa because they believe football should transcend political and social tensions.
Neither position is entirely surprising.
So, Who Should Nigerians Support?
Perhaps there is no correct answer. Some Nigerians will support South Africa because they believe an African victory benefits the entire continent.
Others will support Mexico because of personal convictions and experiences. What is certain is that the opening match will generate conversations far beyond football tactics and scorelines.
Five days from now, when South Africa and Mexico walk onto the pitch, Nigerians will be watching.
The only question is: who will they be cheering for?
Let us know in the comments.
The memes have already started rolling in. Lately, my WhatsApp status has been filled with Mexican jerseys, flags, and songs. It seems many Nigerians have already made up their minds about who they will be supporting. Whether fair or not, I suspect a large number of Nigerians will be backing Mexico. Unfortunately, South Africa’s relationship with many fellow Africans has been strained over the years due to repeated incidents of xenophobic attacks and hostility towards other African nationals. Those experiences have left deep impressions, and for many people, football support is now being influenced by those sentiments.
Though it’s not fair to support Mexico as an African but looking at the hospitality meted by SS lately to other Africans living in their country, I’m definitely supporting Mexico. No hard feelings.