EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Javier Garcia/Shutterstock (14277911dz) Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi of Fulham celebrate at full time Fulham v Arsenal, Premier League, Football, Craven Cottage, London, UK - 31 Dec 2023
Alex Iwobi made his debut for Nigeria in 2015 and has since gone on to play over seventy games for the Super Eagles, scoring ten goals in that time.
Fulham manager, Marco Silva, has downplayed discussions surrounding Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi experiencing the impact of cyberbullying, Soccernet.ng reports.
Iwobi, 27, was singled out for criticism by a number of Nigerian fans on social media after Nigeria lost the AFCON 2023 final to Ivory Coast, forcing the former Arsenal midfielder to archive all of his posts on Instagram.
The former Everton man did the same thing back in 2021 after Nigeria exited the AFCON 2021 tournament at the round of sixteen in Cameroon.
His club coach, however, mentioned that the versatile midfielder is completely clear of all the residue of the online abuse he suffered.
Speaking in his pre-match conference ahead of Fulham’s clash against Aston Villa, the Portuguese tactician revealed that Iwobi is completely focused on his game.
“Mentally, he’s very good. Alex is a happy boy when he’s on the pitch doing what he loves, he’s always doing it with a smile on his face. I know a part, but I don’t know everything that people said about it. I don’t see reasons because if you lose a game you lose a game together, if you win a game you win together of course. They did brilliantly until the final,” the 46-year-old said in quotes revealed by the club’s official website.
The former Everton manager added that he’s discussed with the two Nigerians at the club and clarified their importance to his team ahead of their weekend clash.
“In my opinion, it was completely unfair because of the way they criticized him on social media. It’s more strange when there is no reason to do it. Since he arrived here, of course, I had a chat with him. He’s going to be involved in the game, him and Calvin Bassey,” the gaffer added.
Since joining the club last summer, Alex Iwobi has scored three goals in eighteen games for the Cottagers.