Iwobi Reportedly Ready to Quit Super Eagles, Takes Notable Action, Details Emerge
- Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi has removed all photos on his official Instagram page and is reportedly ready to quit the national team
- A check by Legit.ng on Monday afternoon, February 12, confirmed that only one video remains on the account
- Iwobi is one of the players who faced criticisms after Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in the 2023 AFCON final on Sunday, February 11, 2024
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and football.
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire - Barring any last-minute change of mind, Super Eagles of Nigeria star, Alex Iwobi, will quit the national team.
As reported by Owngoal Nigeria on Monday afternoon, February 12, Iwobi is fed up with the cyberbullying directed at him following his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 where Nigeria reached the final.
Source: Getty Images
While critics said the 27-year-old underperformed at AFCON 2023 and in recent years, bullies allegedly went as far as posting hate comments on his social media page.
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The former Arsenal man has already deleted all his Instagram pictures as some social media users continue to drop abusive comments on old social media photos.
Iwobi: Experts react
Nigerian football stakeholders like Sulaiman Pooja Adebayo, a sports photographer; and Adepoju Samuel, former media officer of the Future Eagles; waded into the matter.
Samuel wrote on X:
"Alex Iwobi has been heavily criticised in this tournament. I understand criticism is part of the game, but when it's extreme it becomes evil.
"Football fans should know when to stop.
"Iwobi has deleted all his photos on Instagram and this is ridiculous. I won't be shocked if Iwobi retires from the national team."
On his part, Pooja commented:
"This is actually sad. We can do better."
See their tweets below:
Iwobi: Expert condemns bullies
Reacting to the abuse suffered by Iwobi, a sports broadcaster, Hassan Odunayo Ruth, said Nigerians are always looking for a scapegoat after every major tournament.
According to Ruth, the targeted attacks at Iwobi are "pathetic".
She told Legit.ng:
"As they have bulled Alex Iwobi to deleting all his Images on Instagram, what exactly is their gain? Will they take his place in the national team? Some people are just annoying.
"Many of these bullies never believed in this team going into AFCON 2023, very few people like us gave the team a chance going into the just-concluded tournament.
"They all bashed and thrashed the team after they drew 1-1 against Equatorial Guinea. The team worked hard, reached the final, and suddenly, these bullies think they are more Nigerian than others.
"They bullied Odion Jude Ighalo and till date his comment section on Instagram is locked. They did same to Maduka Okoye and sent him death threats, he refused to honour the last invitation.
"They once did the same to Yakubu Aiyegbeni and till date they still make fun of him.
"Now it is Alex Iwobi, who knows who is next?"
More to read about Super Eagles, AFCON
- AFCON 2023 final: Lagos govt shares 6 health tips for viewers
- AFCON 2023: Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, gets emotional as he pens message after final
- Why Nigeria lost AFCON 2023 final to Ivory Coast, Atiku's aide, Daniel Bwala explains
AFCON: Why Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria - Peseiro
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, admitted that Ivory Coast were the better side in the 2023 AFCON final played in Abidjan.
Peseiro pointed out in his post-match interview that although his players gave their maximum, they were sad that they could not lift the trophy.
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Source: Legit.ng
