Nigeria Should Be Punished — South Africa’s Sports Minister Reacts to Chelle’s Penalty Shootout Bust-Up

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has strongly criticised the behaviour of Eric Chelle during the penalty shootout between Nigeria and DR Congo, saying the incident “brings the game in disrepute” and insisting that “Nigeria should be punished.”

A clip of Chelle’s angry confrontation during the shootout spread widely online after Nigeria lost to DR Congo. Responding on social media, McKenzie wrote, “This is totally unacceptable behaviour… we will be looking very closely at this matter… This is football, not UFC.”

McKenzie, a former politician and businessman who became sports minister in 2024, said South Africa would review the incident, although many South Africans were quick to point out that any disciplinary action lies with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), not the South African government. Some commenters accused him of focusing on the wrong issues, stressing that he has no authority over CAF sanctions.

Chelle’s conduct, now under intense public scrutiny, has sparked broader discussion about professionalism and sportsmanship in African football. However, any formal punishment—if imposed—will be determined solely by CAF.