Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-15 16:03:44
During the 2022 Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Presidential election, David Doherty, a contestant, has addressed the situation surrounding the alleged online bullying of Alex Iwobi, a midfielder for Fulham.
After Nigeria suffered a loss to the hosts Ivory Coast in the final game of the 2023 AFCON, Iwobi was the target of bullying and criticism online. In response, Iwobi deleted all the photos from his Instagram page as a way of shielding himself from the abuse. However, Doherty has come forward to clarify the situation and stated that Iwobi did not go offline because of the harsh criticisms he received.
According to Doherty, Iwobi has safely returned home to London, resumed training with Fulham, and will be available for selection. He emphasized that Iwobi did not go offline because of bullies, but rather to concentrate on the tournament. Doherty quoted a source close to Iwobi who stated that at 27, going on 28 years old, being affected by comments from people he doesn’t know and has no connection with is not an issue for Iwobi. He also emphasized that Iwobi is open to constructive criticism from his coaches and others who matter to him, but the comments from those who don’t matter have no effect on him. The source added that the so-called bullies are the minority, while football-loving Nigerians recognize Iwobi’s commitment and contribution to the Super Eagles.
The source also stressed that being affected by comments from people he doesn’t know at this point in his career would be a concern for Iwobi. The source added that mental strength is essential in football, and if Iwobi cannot cope with people hating on him at this stage in his career, it would be a serious issue.
Doherty mentioned that the 3-4-3 formation adopted by the Eagles in most of their matches at the 2023 AFCON put Iwobi at a disadvantage. Despite this, Iwobi had a strong performance in Nigeria’s group opening clash against Equatorial Guinea, where he could have had two assists. However, he was also involved in the first goal conceded by Nigeria against Ivory Coast in the final.
In conclusion, Doherty’s statement aimed to clarify that Iwobi did not go offline due to online bullying and emphasized Iwobi’s mental strength and resilience in the face of criticism. He also highlighted Iwobi’s contributions to the Super Eagles and his commitment to the sport.
