South Africa's 2-0 loss to Mexico in the opening match of the football World Cup sparked a wave of mockery on social media from African fans. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
After the match, social media lit up with mocking posts. Some African fans justified their support for Mexico by linking it to tensions in South Africa over migration. One X user wrote: "You want people to cheer for you when you play soccer just because we're African?" Another user posted: "We're supporting Mexico so that South Africa can go back home early to protect their jobs," echoing unfounded accusations that foreigners are responsible for South Africa's high unemployment.
Prominent Kenyan lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi posted: "I hope South Africa is not blaming African migrants for the 2–0 defeat and two red cards in the match against Mexico."
Congolese football supporter Daniel Kaniki, who was at a fan park in Atlanta, US, told the BBC: "Africa is like one country and if one is chasing others, we are not a family any more. That's why I'm supporting Mexico today."
Ghanaian Vanlare Quist, also at the fan park, said he was rooting for South Africa, adding that he was "a proud African" and blamed anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa on a few individuals.
In South Sudan, fans at public viewing centres in the capital, Juba, were backing Bafana Bafana. 23-year-old student George Kenyi Charles Rehan told the BBC: "It was unfortunate that on social media we saw some African countries supporting Mexico and even wearing Mexico jerseys. As South Sudanese, we are behind South Africa and will continue to support South Africa - because they are representing Africa. So, all African countries must support South Africa during this World Cup."
The South African government commended Bafana Bafana for their "spirited performance", adding that the team "represented South Africa with unity, determination, and a sense of pride on the world's biggest stage".
South Africans on social media robustly responded to the trolling. One posted: "We qualified for the World Cup alone without your support and whether we win or lose we will remain South Africans who love their country. And illegal immigrants will still leave our country whether you hate us or not." Another said: "They can support Mexico all they want we are not backing down. Come to South Africa legally."
In South Africa, migrants from elsewhere in Africa have been targets of violence and intimidation in recent weeks. Anti-migrant groups have set a deadline of 30 June for foreign nationals living in the country illegally to leave. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against people taking the law into their own hands, saying that "only authorised government officials can act against violations of our law". But he also stated that South Africans' concerns "deserve to be heard, and they deserve to be addressed".
On Wednesday, Nigeria became the latest African country to repatriate some of its citizens from South Africa. Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi have already carried out evacuations, saying they were taking the anti-migrant threats seriously.
Many people from other parts of Africa moved to South Africa around the time white-minority rule ended in 1994, hoping for a better life. But with South Africa facing an unemployment rate of more than 30%, anti-migrant sentiments have risen, with protest marches being held in major cities and people facing xenophobic attacks.