South Africa vs Mexico: Africans rally behind Mexico in explosive anti-xenophobia protest

As the world looks forward to the much-anticipated opening match, to kick off at 10PM East African time, some disgruntled Africans are using the moment to denounce the South African nation's continued persecution of other African nationals.

The campaign was kicked off by Nigerians on X and TikTok, with many urging the rest of Africa to rally behind Mexico, as the Mexicans have proven to be more accommodating and friendly towards Africans arriving in their country, compared to South Africa.

Eric Boateng, a Ghanaian influencer, shared this viral post: "Mexico vs South Africa: If we support South Africa, they'll say we are taking their jobs."

Another Nigerian X user wrote, "Dear Mexico, Please Don’t pity South Africa, beat them like they are coming to take your women and jobs. Yours Sincerely, 53 African countries."

The posts have received overwhelming support from across Africa, with African football fans vowing to wholeheartedly support Mexico as opposed to supporting a country that has notoriously hit the headlines for their unsubstantiated hate for their fellow Africans.

In what has been dubbed the biggest 'hate watch' of the modern World Cup, Africans have also started sharing videos and photos of themselves wearing the Sombrero - a traditional broad-brimmed Mexican hat - as a way of announcing their allegiance to the so-called Land of the Sun. 

Someone wrote: "The South Africa vs Mexico games will really be funny. The Mexicans will be confused when they see names like Afia Camilla, Abena Lola, Kwesi Emiliano, Kofi Miguel, Chiamaka Guadalupe, Amara Graciela,  Okechuku Santiago and Obafemi Pablo. The greatest hate watch from Africa."

El Tri, the popular nickname for the Mexican national football team, will all of a sudden witness a rapture of roaring support and backing from Africans, and they may understandably be shocked that Africans are not supporting a team from their own continent, as has been the tradition during World Cups.

Kenyan X personality @Gitz simply wrote, "Africans would have hate watched Morocco during the World Cup but South Africa volunteered for the position."

Group A starts with a classic World Cup pairing in one of football’s most famous venues - Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Tonight's encounter will pit two sides with contrasting profiles against each other, as Mexico, ranked 15th in the world, takes on a South African side ranked 60th by FIFA.

Mexico enter the tournament as one of the three co-hosts - the others are the USA and Canada - and will be playing in their third World Cup staged on home soil.

The Mexican team is expected to draw strength from home support and boasts a squad renowned for its tactical flexibility and defensive discipline. 

The fixture is among the tournament's opening matches and is expected to draw millions of viewers from around the world as two ambitious nations begin their quest for football glory.

As it all unfolds, Africans, from Nigeria to Ghana, Zimbabwe to Zambia, will be seated at the edge of their seats, watching anxiously, ready to blast the "El Jarabe Tapatío" every time the Mexican team scores.

"You cannot kick us out of your country and expect to us to cheer you on. You left our hearts the moment we left your country," Kaleb Jireh wrote.