Super Eagles fans mourning Sunday’s 2023 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) final loss to the host Ivory Coast have targeted Alex Iwobi with negative cyber-bullying remarks, therefore prompting the midfielder to empty his Instagram.

He seemed to have done this to shield himself from more mind-boggling assault. A drastic step by Alex Iwobi meant erasing treasured memories from Afcon and other past events. Initially, a day after the tournament, he had stripped down to one video and deactivated the comment section until he decided to let go entirely.

All these had happened because the fans thought he didn’t give enough on the pitch.

When the Super Eagles faced Ivory Coast on Sunday evening, Iwobi who plays for the English Premier League side, Fulham F.C was substituted in the 79^th minute of the game for fresh legs Alhassan Yusuf to come in.

The tide looks like it has turned against Iwobi but his teammates won’t abandon him. Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, via his X profile, has been speaking to fans to quit their cyber-bullying because this is criminal.

Dear fans, I want to please urge you to halt the cyber-bullying directed towards Alex Iwobi, reads the opening.

[Cyber-bullying], he adds 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.

Dear fans, I want to please urge you to halt the cyber-bullying directed towards Alex Iwobi. Cyber bullying 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 behavior.

Losing a game is… pic.twitter.com/prxydU5Jfb

— Ahmed Musa OON (@Ahmedmusa718) February 12, 2024

More emotional support came from Alex Iwobi’s uncle and a Super Eagles legend, Jay Jay Okocha. He was seen to be cheering his nephew on.

ALSO READ: Super Eagles take final deep breath in Lagos and hope to soar at 2023 AFCON

Through his Instagram on Tuesday, Jay Jay is thinking that all we have [in] this life is each other, we love you @alexanderiwobi in his words of encouragement.

A meeting with sports minister, Senator John Enoh has also brought further reassurance regarding protection for players. In the video chat with Iwobi, the minister revealed that measures are being put in place to prevent fans attacking players when they lose.

Even if the Super Eagles did not win the Afcon cup this time, their passionate display at the now-ended Afcon is remembered as the best performance ever shown by any recent generation. While on the pitch, they were thought to have exemplified the Nigerian spirit that fights to the end.

And so, for their reward, the Super Eagles ended up with the runner-up prize of $4 million.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.