Out there in Ivory Coast for the 2023 African Cup of Nations has been nothing but a good run for the Super Eagles with the team having only conceded one goal, and has won four games leading to the semi-final with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday, 7 February and that is the problem.

It is not just that the Nigerian Super Eagles have shown fluency in their contest against their past Afcon opponents, they have done it at the back of several clean sheets.

All these stats are bragging rights for the fans who have received an advisory cautioning against over-celebrating should the final match result tomorrow favour Nigeria instead of the South Africans.

This advice which came from the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wants the Super Eagles fans to embrace moderation.

The attention of the Nigeria High Commission South Africa has been drawn to potentially inflammatory online comments made by a section of South African citizens against Nigerians living in host country, largely influenced by the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final match between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana on Wednesday 7^th February 2024.

Most of the comments consist of veiled threats against “Nigerians cooking Jollof rice” before the match and “showing pepper to Nigerians if the Bafana Bafana lose to the Super Eagles” among others.

In this regard, the High Commission hereby advises the Nigerian community to be watchful of their utterances, be mindful of where they choose to watch their match especially in public places, and refrain from engaging in loud, riotous or provocative celebrations should the Super Eagles win the match. 

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What hasn’t helped is music-related and not sports.

It started in the evening on Sunday, with all four Nigerian Afrobeats musicians Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Asake losing out on a possible Grammys 2024 win and it was a 22-year-old South African singer Tyla that the award plaque for the Best African Music Performance went to.

Ever since this low moment over the weekend, Nigerians have been looking forward to the next Afcon game to attempt some kind of balance over bragging right but this must not get out of hand.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.