South Africa trolled by African fans in wake of World Cup loss

The normal display of African unity in the early stages of a football World Cup was notably absent from social media as many fans from across the continent backed Mexico in the tournament's opening match against South Africa.

The memes were light-hearted - including lots of sombreros and Mexican flags - but they pointed to a dark underbelly. The banter reflected anger over the reports of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

A poor South African performance on the pitch led to a 2-0 defeat against the World Cup co-hosts.

As the final whistle blew, social media lit up with a flood of mocking posts. But some South Africans pushed back, praising the spirit of their team, nicknamed Bafana Bafana.

South Africa is one of 10 African teams at this year's expanded World Cup, with the US and Canada co-hosting along with Mexico.

Ahead of the Thursday's match, some African football fans justified their support for Mexico by linking it to the current tensions in South Africa over migration.

"You want people to cheer for you when you play soccer just because we're African?" one X user asked citing reports of mistreatment of migrants.

"We're supporting Mexico so that South Africa can go back home early to protect their jobs," another user posted, playing on the unfounded accusation that foreigners were responsible for South Africa's high unemployment rate.

"I hope South Africa is not blaming African migrants for the 2–0 defeat and two red cards in the match against Mexico," posted Ahmednasir Abdullahi, a prominent Kenyan lawyer.

Others shared memes playfully embracing Mexican culture for the day, changing their profile pictures to Mexican flags and adopting Spanish-sounding names, under the caption "Mexico versus xenophobia".

Daniel Kaniki, a Congolese football supporter who was at a fan park in the US city of Atlanta told the BBC: "Africa is like one country and if one is chasing others, we are not a family any more. That's why I'm supporting Mexico today."

Though not everyone agreed.

Ghanaian Vanlare Quist, was also at the fan park and said he was rooting for South Africa, adding that he was "a proud African" and blamed the anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa on a few individuals.

In South Sudan, fans at public viewing centres in the the capital, Juba, were also backing Bafana Bafana. People there have a strong affinity to South Africa, linking their fight for independence from Sudan to the struggle against white-minority rule in South Africa.

"It was unfortunate that on social media we saw some African countries supporting Mexico and even wearing Mexico jerseys. As South Sudanese, we are behind South Africa and will continue to support South Africa - because they are representing Africa. So, all African countries must support South Africa during this World Cup," 23-year-old student George Kenyi Charles Rehan told the BBC in Juba.