'I'm not aware of what's going on' - Iwobi confirms he took himself off social media after AFCON final

Nigeria's Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh is very concerned about how Alex Iwobi was treated by Super Eagles fans during and after the national team's loss to Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. 

The Fulham midfielder was not spared by Super Eagles fans who attacked and insulted him on social media after the loss to the Elephants. 

In truth, Iwobi was not at his best in the AFCON final and this did not sit well with a lot of Nigerians, though it must be stressed that he was not directly culpable for both goals conceded by the Super Eagles against Ivory Coast and often played out of position throughout the duration of the tournament. 

Manager Jose Peseiro built his team on a defensive foundation at the AFCON and Iwobi had issues with the playing style when the team is out of possession. 

Nigerian fans took to social media to air their views and pour out their frustrations, with majority saying that Iwobi should not be a Super Eagles player in these circumstances and claimed that he was being favored by coaches past and present because he is the nephew of legendary and skillful Nigeria midfielder Austin Jay-Jay Okocha. 

Iwobi was forced to delete all photos and videos from his Instagram page, leaving only one due to the weight of criticism. 

John Owan Enoh has given moral support to the Super Eagles number 17 after the horrible social media trolling he received including death threats.

Responding to the Minister of Sports, Iwobi said: "I have taken myself off social media so I'm not aware of what's going on."

Asked when he stopped his social media activities, he told John Owan Enoh: "After yesterday's game."

The Sports Minister revealed that he's going to make another statement against cyber-bullying of not just Iwobi but Nigeria's sportsmen and women. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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