South African football legend Portia Modise has accused Nigerian football authorities of deliberately poisoning the Banyana Banyana squad ahead of a crucial Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier in Nigeria.
Modise, one of South Africa’s most decorated female footballers, made the explosive claim during an interview, describing the experience as “traumatic” and one of the worst of her international career.
Only Three of Us Were Not in the Hospital
According to Modise, the entire South African squad became violently ill after consuming food provided by the Nigerian hosts.
- They gave us food poisoning in Nigeria. The whole team was sick. It was only three of us that were not in the hospital,” she revealed.
Despite the alarming health crisis, she claimed the match was not postponed and South Africa was forced to play with just 10 fit players.
- We thought we were not going to come back,” Modise added, suggesting the situation felt life-threatening.
Questions Over Sportsmanship and Player Safety
Modise’s revelations have sparked renewed concerns about the safety and fairness of international competitions, especially between rival nations.
The incident, though not previously documented officially, adds to the historical tensions between Nigeria and South Africa in women’s football. It also raises questions about whether CAF or FIFA were aware of the alleged misconduct and what safeguards exist to protect visiting teams.
As Nigeria continues to push its football development agenda, Modise’s claims could reignite scrutiny over how international teams are treated on Nigerian soil.
