The invitation of Nigerian-born defender Ime Okon to Bafana Bafana has sparked mixed reactions among South African football fans.
Okon, 20, was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and South African mother but was raised solely by his mother after losing his father as a baby.
The young defender, who currently plays in Germany with Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga 2, earned recognition after breaking out with SuperSport United in 2023.
While many in South Africa’s football community have welcomed his inclusion, others remain critical. Nigerian fans, boasting of a wealth of football talent, have also waded into the debate, joking that they are “helping South Africa” by producing players like Okon.
This is not the first time the defender has been on Bafana’s radar. He was named in a provisional squad in 2023 ahead of a FIFA World Cup qualifier but was later dropped.
Since then, his reputation has grown. Okon made 18 appearances in the DStv Premiership under coach Gavin Hunt and featured six times in continental competition before securing his move to Europe.
