Categories: News

“We Were Almost Physically Hurt” – Alex Iwobi Opens Up On Nigeria’s Passionate Reaction To 4-4 Sierra Leone Draw

Nigeria have some of the most passionate fans in world football, but the Everton midfielder found out the hard way almost two months ago

The Super Eagles surrendered a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 with lowly Sierra Leone during an Afcon-qualifying clash in November, a result, Alex Iwobi admits, a lot of the national team’s supporters took badly.

Iwobi scored twice on the day, as Gernot Rohr’s men ran riot in the opening half-hour against a team 80 places below them on the FIFA ranking.

But even the former Arsenal forward was not spared the wrath and criticisms that came raining down on the team from far and near after the Leone Stars managed to complete a stunning comeback in the second half.

Iwobi confessed that even the players and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, were not pleased about that disappointing result.

But the Super Eagles fans delivered the ugliest reaction of all, with the players only narrowly escaping physical injury on their way out of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

“I can’t even tell you what happened in the game, I don’t know, it was mad,” Iwobi told Everton FC.

“There was a lot of heated discussion in the changing room.

“The Nigerian Football President came in and said a few words.

“He was hurt, like all of us.

“Trying to go back to the hotel, people were throwing stones at our bus.

“One cracked a window and hit a player. It was crazy.

“They are proper passionate.

“I see where they were coming from, the result was hurtful.

“But we were almost physically hurt because of it!”

Iwobi insists that unfortunate reaction is not often the case as Nigerian fans treat the Super Eagles stars like kings after every decent performance.

The Everton star hopes the current generation of players can lead the three-time African champions to glory at a major tournament to give the fans something to cheer.

“Of course, I like the passion and we want the fans to show it,” Iwobi added.

“Just don’t hurt us, please!

“Only Lord knows how they’d react if we could win a tournament.

“It is what everyone dreams of and, hopefully, we can make it a reality.”

Nigeria are all but assured of their place in the 2022 Afcon finals with the Gernot Rohr-led side needing one point from their last two group games to book their ticket to the next edition of the Championship in Cameroon.

This post was last modified on January 7, 2021 6:07 pm

Imhons Erons

Share
Published by
Imhons Erons

Recent Posts

“History has not been sincere with us” – Super Eagles B coach reacts as Ghana’s Dramani targets ‘clean sheet’ in Uyo

Super Eagles B stand-in coach Daniel Ogunmodede has expressed his team's determination to focus on… Read More

5 minutes ago

Report: Napoli open to swapping Victor Osimhen with struggling Manchester United star

Former Italian Serie A champions Napoli are huge admirers of out-of-favour Manchester Unuted forward Marcus… Read More

54 minutes ago

Bukayo Saka’s injury sparks Arsenal’s interest in Nigerian winger with 6 Super Eagles goals

Arsenal could rival Aston Villa in a bid to secure the services of Nigerian international… Read More

12 hours ago

Napoli identify three potential targets for Osimhen swap deal as Manchester United talks heat up

2023 Serie A winners, Napoli, have identified three potential candidates for a swap deal as… Read More

14 hours ago

Super Eagles star joins Mohammed Salah and Aleksandar Isak in Deeney’s BBC Team of the Week

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest versatile defender, Olaoluwa Temitayo Aina, was included in Troy Deeney's… Read More

15 hours ago