Super Eagles have appealed to Nigerians to constructively criticize the team members in future matches, urging fans to consider the mental health of the players.
Captain of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa, appealed on Tuesday, February 13, while speaking to journalists at the State House, Abuja, where the entire national team was honoured by President Bola Tinubu, for their performance at the just concluded CAF’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Musa, who regretted the inability of the team to win the cup at the final, however, assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles would be better prepared for the World Cup Qualifiers.
He, however, explained that the team was able to achieve the much as it did at the tournament because of the solidarity of the team and the huge support from Nigerians
He said: “We know that we are very disappointed with the result but there’s nothing we can do about this. That’s what happens in football. So now we have to go back and work ahead for the next AFCON and we have some more couple of games for the World Cup qualifiers so that is more important.
“We appreciate all Nigerians for the massive support that they gave to us. It’s not that easy. We know everyone wants the cup but that is what Allah decided that is going to happen. Yeah, for our colleagues”
Speaking on the Cyberbullying against the Super Eagles Midfield player, Alex Iwobi, the Eagles Captain said that the internet trolls were not fair to the player and that he did not deserve the internet bullying.
“I don’t think he deserves what he is getting now because I think we have done our nation proud. So we think everyone has to be proud of every one of us. But we saw on social media, that if you want to attack this just attack the team, not individual players.”
Also reacting to the bullying against Iwobi, Serie A side Napoli and the Nigeria national team star, Victor Osimhen condemned the actions of the trolls saying that they should have considered the mental health of the player.
He said: “I think to be fair, what they have done to Alex is out of this world and is not good. They should also look at his mental health because some of us can take this to heart and then keep on grinding.
“There are some of us that he still gets to go ahead and they will lose focus and we lose form. So I think we are rallying around him, we have spoken to him individually and collectively. So I think he’s a strong dude and is ready to continue to give his all for his nation.”
Speaking on the Super Eagles’ readiness towards World Cup qualifiers, Osimhen said the goal of the Super Eagles is to secure the World Cup ticket, expressing the confidence that Nigeria has the team and the best squad to achieve the target.
“We are ready. I think now we just finished a tournament that is one of the hardest we have played in since I started my career. Now we have to go back to our clubs to keep up the good work and hopefully, we get called up by our national team and give our all also. But of course, the goal is to get a ticket to the World Cup and I think we have the team and we have the squad to achieve this”, he said.
