Former Bafana Bafana defender Matthew Booth has labelled some reactions to Ime Okon’s call-up as disgraceful and lauded him as a ‘fantastic talent’ for the national team.
Okon, 22, returns to the senior national team after gaining five caps at the Cosafa Cup where he scored one goal, but the first full call-up under Hugo Broos.
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Having missed out on two previous squads due to injury, Okon replaces the injured Siyabonga Ngezana of FCSB, the only change in central defence from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad.
However, there’s been sections on social media that has not been welcoming due to his name, with his father, who passed on while Ime was in his formative years, being Nigerian.
Having grown up in South Africa, playing for Randburg before a move to SuperSport United, Okon has developed into one of the most promising defenders in the country and currently plies his trade in Germany with Hannover 96.
“Football often reflects our social ills and vice-versa because it’s such a big game that is important within our society, so you see the same issues within our football, as you do in general society,” Booth said on the Bettor Podcast.
“There’s a big issue with immigrants at the moment, I’m sure everyone can agree, there’s big debates about what should be done, and this has spilled over in our football arena and it’s completely wrong, in fact, it’s disgraceful.
“Why cast dispersions on him and not myself for example. My surname is Booth, my surname is English – so why didn’t I get equal animosity, I got total acceptance and I’ve always had that acceptance within the football industry, where colour, class is ignored. It’s not an issue.
“So, I find it quite disappointing that now, it seems to be happening, but we also have to accept what happens on social media is different to what happens in real life, and I can guarantee you he is accepted amongst his teammates. And I hope we keep him in the fold because he is a fantastic talent.”
Okon will be aiming to add to his international caps against Panama this week and stamp his authority for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
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