THAT’S THE WAY THE XENOPHOBES CRUMBLE

By Akin Ojumu

For me, any African team is my team. I always want an African side to win. Well, except when they face Nigeria, of course. Whenever an African nation faces a non-African nation in any sporting competition, my Africanness compels me to root for my fellow Africans. 

That’s the way it should be, ordinarily. But not in the ongoing El Mundial. 

Watching the Republic of South Africa fall 2-0 to Mexico in their world cup tournament opener at a packed Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, 11 June 2026, sent a sweet thrill up my leg. 

With every red card South Africa received and with every goal they conceded, the schadenfreude in me boils up higher and higher until it erupts in an ecstatic delight at the final whistle. I had to hold myself back from bursting out in, “Celebrate good time, c’mon. Tanranranran tan tan tan tan…”

Let me be clear. My reveling in South Africa’s misfortune should not be misconstrued as my support for the El Tri. Nope. All I wanted was South Africa to lose, and not necessarily that I wanted Mexico to win. I was against RSA and not for Mexico.

I wanted South Africa to lose because of what a significant number of black people in that country has become. Any black African who would call their fellow black Africans dogs and cockroaches is not deserving of my support. Any black African who would openly profess hatred for their black brothers and sisters from other countries is not worthy of our allegiance. And any black African people who would inflict violence on migrants from somewhere else in Africa simply for coming to your country to fend for themselves and their families, must be shamed and shunned.

For me, South Africa’s defeat to Mexico is one down, two to go. The xenophobes of Soweto should know that our champagne bottles – well, apple juice bottles, really – are chilling on ice waiting to be popped two more times before all is said and done. We are eagerly waiting to celebrate as you fall to South Korea and Czech Republic in your remaining two matches.

To all the other xenophobes out there on the continent, let this be a warning. We are going to similarly cheer, when you eventually meet your downfall.