AFCON: Alex Iwobi speaks about being cyberbullied after finals defeat to Cote d'Ivoire

The Super Eagles had an impressive run at the recent African Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire but it didn't end without the usual controversy that has characterized the team.

After the final defeat to host Cote d'Ivoire, some players especially Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina were called out for lackluster performances.

Iwobi was the most affected by these cyberbullies and colleagues had to rally around to support and protect him from angry fans.

However, speaking for the first time since the incident, the Fulham midfielder has revealed in a recent interview that he was unfazed by the turnout of event.

The 27-year-old, in a newly launched Project 17 podcast said he didn't see any criticism thrown at him adding the players were following the coach's instructions.

“The whole competition I didn’t see it. I remember in a press conference they said, ‘Where is the creativity? ‘ and I had to address the role I was given and I said I am the kind of guy who will listen to my coach and try to do the job I’m told to do.”

After the loss to Ivory Coast, Iwobi was instead reading messages of support from friends and family rather than scrolling through any abuse on his social media accounts.

“The game is done now, obviously I’m disappointed I’m on my phone but I don’t check Twitter. I’m on Snapchat and WhatsApp with all my people telling me I’ve done my nation proud.”

The former Everton midfielder revealed that Napoli’s talismanic striker, Victor Osimhen, called his attention to the online abuse he’d been getting and reached out just to make sure Iwobi remained in a good head-space.

“At two o’clock there was a knock on the door, I was like, I don’t want room service, but I looked through the keyhole and it is Victor Osimhen. I’m half-asleep with my hair everywhere but he said, I’m not going to lie to you, they’ve been talking about you a lot on social media and I want to make sure you’re good. They’re saying you’re going to retire, you’re depressed.”

Iwobi took down all but one of his posts on Instagram, just like he did after Nigeria got knocked out of the AFCON 2021 tournament in Cameroon so as to prevent the vile comments on his page.

“It is what it is, it is not the first time. The first AFCON where I got sent off it happened, at Arsenal it constantly happened, at Everton when I signed for two years it happened, that is football. I would rather be off social media, I don’t want to see that and I don’t care. They wanted to put out a statement saying cyberbullying is wrong and I said we are just going to create a bigger scene but they said we needed to stand as one. They were standing up for me but I said no because the world would think I was down, I’m calm, just listening to music.”

Iwobi played all of Nigeria’s seven games at the AFCON tournament.

Alex Iwobi talks about Victor Osimhen coming to his hotel room. He also spoke about this video. https://t.co/I3WigTIHae pic.twitter.com/gDCFBpSgS4

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