2026 WCQ: 'Super Eagles need encouragement, not insult' - Ebi

Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi has called on the Nigerian fans not to insult the Super Eagles when results are not going in their favour but to show them encouragement.

Recall that Nigeria have managed to secure two points from two matches after holding Zimbabwe and Lesotho to a 1-1 draw respectively in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Reacting via her social media handle, Ebi asked Nigerian fans to back the country’s players and refrain from “insulting” and “discouraging” them after a bad game.

According to her, no player likes losing a game and some footballers never recover from such a loss.

“They are gradually killing the beautiful game in my country with so much negativity. Football is supposed to be enjoyed, and players giving all to make the country proud are supposed to be encouraged and supported. It’s all going the other way around now. SMH,” she wrote on her social media Tuesday.

“It’s really sad to know that we have the best players in the world, but it is difficult to win games convincingly these days. It is really sad. We need that full support and enough of all this calling out players, insulting, and discouraging them after a bad game. Players go through a lot after all this, please lovers of football we can do better to help each other.”

“Truly, some people don’t understand how it feels to lose a game or play below expectations. Some players never recover from it. Some experienced players are strong enough to encourage the rest. Some go off playing for some time to recover. Football is not just about playing on the field,” Onome, who plays for Naija Ratels, added.

“It’s beyond. You wonder why players always ask the fans for their support and why it is because it goes a long way to motivate and encourage the players. Please let’s change our ways toward football players. It’s destroying the beauty of the game.”