South Africa Trolled Across Africa After World Cup Opening Defeat

South Africa’s 2–0 defeat to Mexico in the opening match of the expanded FIFA World Cup prompted an unusually divided response across Africa, with many fans celebrating the result rather than backing a fellow African team.

The tournament, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada, features ten African nations. South Africa’s opening loss, which included two red cards, became a focal point for wider debates about xenophobia and migration. 

While African supporters have often united behind teams from the continent at major international tournaments, that sense of solidarity appeared less evident following the match. Much of the reaction unfolded on social media, where some users welcomed Mexico’s victory and shared memes featuring sombreros, mariachi bands and tacos.

Many comments referred to recent reports of violence and intimidation directed at migrants in South Africa. Several users argued that South Africa could not expect support from across the continent while migrants were being blamed for unemployment and subjected to threats. 

Others linked the team’s defeat to anti-immigrant rhetoric. Kenyan lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi was among those who commented on the result, remarking that migrants could hardly be blamed for what happened on the football pitch.

Opinions among African supporters were not uniform. 

In Atlanta, Congolese fan Daniel Kaniki said he supported Mexico because of South Africa’s treatment of other Africans. “Africa is like one country and if one is chasing others, we are not a family any more,” he said. 

Ghanaian supporter Vanlare Quist took a different view, saying he continued to support South Africa and describing xenophobia as the behaviour of a minority. In South Sudan, some fans expressed strong support for Bafana Bafana, citing historical links between their country’s independence struggle and South Africa’s fight against apartheid.

The South African government responded by praising the team’s “spirited performance” despite the defeat. Online, many South Africans rejected the criticism, defended their national pride and repeated calls for migrants to enter the country through legal channels.

The debate comes amid rising unemployment in South Africa, which remains above 30%, and increasing hostility towards foreign nationals. Anti-migrant groups have issued demands for undocumented migrants to leave the country by the end of June. In response, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi have carried out evacuations of their citizens. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against vigilante action, saying that only government authorities have the power to enforce immigration laws, while also acknowledging public concerns.