John Fashanu: Former Super Eagles snub dismisses mental ailment rumours with strong statement

Retired Anglo-Nigerian striker John Fashanu has shared a post on social media, confirming that he is hale and hearty and not suffering from any mental health issues, Soccernet.ng reports.

​Fashanu has been a frequent fixture in the Nigerian news space over the last few years. Last year, he was embroiled in a legal battle with the Nigerian Police, whom he sued for an alleged unlawful arrest.

​This time, the stir was caused by his daughter, Amal. She reportedly claimed that she was managing his affairs because he was dealing with brain injuries sustained from frequently heading the ball during his playing days.

​However, Fashanu has released a social media statement firmly denying those claims.

​”I want to address some of the claims recently made in the media by my daughter Amal and published in The Daily Mail a few days ago—they are simply false,” Fashanu said.

​”Contrary to what has been suggested, Amal has not been visiting Nigeria every three months or seeing me every weekend. In fact, she visited me in Nigeria for the first time ever only two weeks ago, to introduce a man she said was her husband. She is not in charge of any of my affairs or properties, nor have I bequeathed any to her.

​”I also want to make it clear that I have not suffered injuries from heading footballs, nor do I have any medical condition of the kind implied in recent reports. This is false information, and I am perfectly fine.”

​Fashanu also refuted his daughter's claims that he is currently in his fifth marriage. Insisting that he is only on his third, he maintained that he remains deeply in love with his wife.

​”It is also wholly untrue to suggest that I have had five wives,” Fashanu added.

​”I have only ever married three women, and I’m currently with my third wife, Vivian Fashanu, whom I love dearly. Amal may be erroneously including her mother as one of my wives, but I was never married to her mother.

​”That said, I understand that my daughter may still carry emotional hurt from the fact that I did not marry her mother, and I recognize how complex and sensitive such emotions can be for children.

​”For this reason, I have always tried, to the best of my ability, to maintain communication with and visit my children whenever possible. Amal has never acted as my agent in relation to Dancing on Ice or any other professional matter, and she has not been managing my personal or professional affairs in any capacity. I have a trusted management team in place, with whom my wife gets on very well and lends much support to.”

​Why John Fashanu Did Not Play For Nigeria

​Born to Nigerian parents in London, John Fashanu was eligible to represent both Nigeria and England.

​However, he ultimately chose to represent England on the international stage, though he earned just two caps for the Three Lions throughout his career. He has since noted that one of his biggest career regrets was not playing for Nigeria.