“Difference between criticism

Nigeria legend Joseph Yobo has condemned the bullying of Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi by supporters following Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.

Fans took to social media to harass and troll Iwobi after the match, blaming the Fulham star for the defeat.

Yobo, while speaking exclusively with Omasports, said there is a difference between criticizing a player for his performance and bullying, and Nigerians “crossed that line.”

“Alex Iwobi is Nigerian and chose to play for his fatherland, which most people don’t have the mental toughness to do,” Yobo said. “He is not a bad player at any standard at all. He’s a very good player that loves to play for his country.

“To say that we lost the final because maybe he didn’t have his best game and our fans we turn against him and bully him. There is a difference between criticizing a player for his performance and bullying. And I think we crossed that line.

“Nigerians should understand that this is football. You win and lose. Let’s think about when Alex and the players made us proud. Let’s celebrate them for the good things they’ve done, rather than picking a single player out to be a scapegoat. It’s a team sport.

“I totally condemn it and condemn those bullying Alex Iwobi. That could have been your brother, your family member. It could happen to anybody. You don’t want to scare away anyone from playing for the national team.”