The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has vehemently condemned the cyberbullying directed at Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi following the conclusion of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alex Iwobi, a Fulham FC player in England, has become the target of social media trolling, with some fans blaming him for Nigeria’s loss to Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON final on Sunday.
The minister condemned such actions as unwarranted and assured the player of the support from Nigerians.
Accompanying the silver-winning Super Eagles team back to Abuja from Abidjan on Tuesday morning, Enoh privately met with Iwobi to offer encouragement and boost his morale.
“I am aware of the social media situation, and as a ministry, we have consistently spoken against bullying, not only directed at you but at our sportsmen and women in general who face such treatment due to competition outcomes.
“We are concerned about how our athletes are treated. You gave your best for your country, and I am proud of you. The leadership and the entire country are proud of you. Those who hold a contrary opinion are in the minority and do not represent the views of our nation, so stay strong.
“You are part of a team that secured a silver medal, a feat the country last achieved at AFCON 2000, 23 years ago. You gave it your all; thank you very much,” stated the minister.
In response, Iwobi mentioned that he had removed himself from social media after the AFCON final and was concentrating on moving forward.
“For me, I have taken myself out of social media after yesterday’s game,” Iwobi explained.
He revealed that he had deleted all pictures on his Instagram page and restricted the comment section of the post due to trolling following the AFCON finals.
Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, also appealed to fans to cease cyberbullying against Iwobi.
“Dear fans, I want to please urge you to halt the cyberbullying directed at Alex Iwobi. Cyberbullying is not just a violation of decency but also a serious crime. It’s hypocritical to claim that football unites us while engaging in such behaviour.
“Losing a game is undoubtedly tough, but targeting a single player for the team’s shortcomings is unfair and unjust. We win as a team, and we lose as a team. Alex gave his all on the field, just like every member of our squad,” expressed Musa.
(NAN)
Disclaimer
The provided information is intended for general awareness and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. The post disclaims any warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the content, services, or graphics on the website. It advises caution when using the information for any purpose.