While South African fans have been cheering on Bafana Bafana at the World Cup, others on the continent are praying for their demise.
In a Kenyan sports bar, several football fans loudly cheered South Africa's opponents during their latest Fifa World Cup fixture — a stark reflection of continental anger over recent xenophobic violence in the republic.
"Everything is political in football. We are against what South Africa is standing for," said Shahim, a 37-year-old Kenyan woman, clenching her fists in joy every time Bafana Bafana missed an opportunity against the Czech Republic on Thursday night. "We want South Africans to react against what is happening in their country... but nothing happens," she added.
South Africa has been gripped for months by localised protests demanding the deportation of undocumented immigrants. While the marches have rarely exceeded a few thousand participants, they have been accompanied by a torrent of xenophobic hostility online and have attracted significant international media attention.
The unrest has flipped the traditional tournament script, where African nations historically unite to support the continent's representatives on the global stage.
