Why are some Africans backing Mexico over South Africa today?
For many, it’s dark humour rooted in painful experiences.
Over the years, xenophobic attacks in South Africa have left many Africans feeling unwelcome, with Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ghanaians and others facing hostility, violence, and discrimination under claims that foreigners are “taking jobs.”
The joke now is: “If we support South Africa, they might say we’re taking their support too.”
While football should unite us, solidarity is difficult when some still carry memories of exclusion and hardship. Mexico becomes the easy choice—not out of hate, but as a tongue-in-cheek response to a deeper issue.