Nigerian singer, Falz has urged Nigerians to stop the act of bullying Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi after he was criticised for his performance in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nation.
Recall that Nigeria were beaten 2-1 by Ivory Coast in the final of the tournament on Sunday.
Taking to his X handle, Falz defended Alex Iwobi following the trolling by Nigerians.
Read Also: Sports Minister Rallies Support For Iwobi Amid Cyberbullying Incident
He further stated that every single player that puts on the green and white to represent Nigeria during the AFCON match made a sacrifice and does not deserve to be treated badly.
Falz wrote; “We win together, we lose together. Every single player that puts on the green white green to represent us, is making an immense sacrifice and does not deserve to be treated with this much disdain.
“We speak a lot about cyber-bullying but we are so quick to turn against our own. @alexanderiwobi Love you bro! Thank you.”
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COMMENTS
Those blaming and insulting Iwobi do not know football. The Coach is to blame for playing only two midfielders in a final . Our best match for me remains the first match against EQ. In that match we created the highest number of chances. Played good football and defended well. If the coach must stay then he must go back and build on that formation going forward . Till now I cannot watch the final game again not because we lost butt because of the way we set up to play. No shot on target on target against a defensively weak team like Ivory Coast. It is better to play well and lose than play shamefully and lose. Im very very disappointed at the formation use in the final
No be only you my brother, I have even refused to watch highlights of the finals. It was our worst match in the AFCON. We were all blinded with the results but the formation sapped our players energy, and this became very noticeable in the semifinal. Coach Peseiro should have changed formation after first half, because even though we were leading, the Ivorians totally outplayed us. What kind of a coach goes into a final to defend for 90 minutes? Man to man, I don’t think the Ivorians were better but we have a very static coach, and I’m having my doubt if Peseiro is the kind of coach we need going forward
“Our best match for me remains the first match against EQ. In that match we created the highest number of chances. Played good football and defended well.”
I totally agree. With a few tweaks here and there that formation was truly exciting and it kept true to the vivacious brand of football that Peseiro promised the NFF and the fans.
The same Iwobi being castigated now tore open Equatorial Guinean backline with a defence splitting pass only for Osimhen to fluff the glorious opportunity with only the goalkeeper to beat.
In fact people who criticise Iwobi should go back and watch the Equatorial Guinea match to see how he stretched their defence time and again with pressing maneuvers and sleek passes that Zaidu failed miserably to convert on another occasion.
Iwobi also supplied Lookman who fed Aina for another golden opportunity.
Why Peseiro ditched that exciting, open and vibrant formation is beyond me. I think he panicked because Nwabili failed to prevent the goal conceded and because the strikers proved miserably wasteful. But, to Peseiro’s credits his negative football did see Nigeria to the final.
Iwobi was drafted to an unusual role (holding midfield) while he play mostly in the attacking role and he tried his best there, the coach tactics didnt work against Ivory Coast and even against South Africa, we were only lucky against the Bafana Bafana. I think he should not try to balance his defensive style of play with the attacking system so that pressure will not be too much on the defense which eventually collapse against the ivory Coast. The Ivorian notice it and brought in more fire power up front which eventually paid off. BLAME THE COACH NOT THE PLAYERS. I am also not really calling for the sack of the coach but he should look for a way to balance the defense with an attacking style also so that opponent will be scared of moving up on us too much.
I will alway blame the stupid technical director Egoavoen, he is an adviser to the coach, our attack forces in this country is always more than the engine Midfield, especially destroyer, Onyeka played all the matches, with Iwobi, playing out of his position, why call him, if he will play out of his role? He could have taken him off in second half, push Bassey to play as a destroyer to cover the midfield.
We need to call the right players to succeed in a tournament, Musa was called, but he was never play for 1 minute. Which kind selection be that? Onyedika is a good midfielder, he was never given a chance, we come dey play Iwobi for other’s players position.
Iwobi should grow up please, is this the first time he would be criticized. And you childishly went to take down your X page, nobody actually cares. It’s your choice. Grow some balls man. Once the criticism is not leading to dead threat, then you have nothing to worry about. You played below standard, don’t care about the excuses you were played out of position, except some people were blind, i saw you pull out from tackles, escorting a player with the ball in his feet, you never tackled one bit. Can’t you be honest with the coach that you not capable of handling the new role? But you can chicken but from criticism. Abeg make we hear word biko