Ahmed Musa, the captain of the Nigeria national football team, has called on the fans to stop cyber-bullying his teammate Alex Iwobi, who has been blamed for the team’s defeat to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Musa, who plays as a forward and left winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Sivasspor, posted a message on his Instagram account on Monday, urging the fans to show respect and support to Iwobi, who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Fulham.
Musa said that cyber-bullying is not only a violation of decency but also a serious crime, and that it is hypocritical to claim that football unites the fans while engaging in such behaviour.
He wrote:
“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 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.
Instead of spreading negativity, let’s show genuine love and support to our players. They need our encouragement now more than ever. Let’s uplift each other and stand united, both in victory and defeat. THANKS #BIG17″
