South Africans have been forewarned by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the umbrella organization for Nigerian students, of their potential danger to Nigerian goalie Stanley Nwabali due to his success in the present Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a statement released on Friday and signed by the association’s Senate President, Ekundina Elvis, the students took aim at the South Africans.
The South African football team Chippa United is home to the Super Eagles goalkeeper.
Football experts think that several South Africans are upset with Nwabali for keeping their side from making it to the finals, even if this threat has not yet been publicized.
Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, former Super Eagles player Idah Peterside disclosed the threats and said that certain supporters had advised Nwabali not to return to Chippa United in South Africa following the AFCON competition.
NANS said that “A South African finger on Nwabali will see the beginning of shutting down of all South African businesses and interests in Nigeria” in response to the threat, and they urged South Africans to avoid Nwabali.
“We would also ban South Africans from receiving any advantages from Nigeria if Nwabali is prevented from rejoining his club.”
The South Africans’ threat against the goalie was bemoaned by the students, who said that football should instead “promote friendship and not bitterness.”
“The Super Eagles have lost in a number of the events in which we have participated. We have never directed or placed the blame for our performance on any nation or anyone outside of our own.
We have always been leading advocates of sportsmanship since it is still a reliable means of bringing love to all nations. However, we won’t stand by and let jerks attack our brother for trivial reasons like this.