Thierry Henry: Why Arsenal legend contacted Nigerians after controversial iShowSpeed incident

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has sent a message to Nigerians to clear the air over some comments he made at the World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.

​On Saturday, Henry drew ire from Nigerian fans following a conversation he had with popular streamer iShowSpeed.

​The American streamer wore an interesting fit to the game between the USA and Paraguay which ended 4-1. Speed wore a USA shirt and Nigerian shorts to the stadium. Seeing that, Henry jokingly told him that it was bad luck.

​The former Arsenal and Barcelona man explained that although he loves Nigeria, wearing the kits of two different teams is bad luck.

​However, some Nigerian fans were not so pleased with his comments, and they took to social media to criticize and insult him afterwards.

​Following the backlash, Henry has also taken to social media to address the issue.

​Thierry Henry Explains Incident With iShowSpeed

​Following the backlash from fans, Thierry Henry took to social media to explain the whole situation.

​”I needed to clarify something because I don't think people understand when you say stuff sometimes or when a joke is a joke,” Henry said.

🚨 Thierry Henry apologises to Nigerians after jokingly calling Speed’s Nigerian shorts “bad luck”

Full context in the video. pic.twitter.com/nbNzUb85Rb

— Soccernet.ng (@soccernet_ng) June 14, 2026

​”So I just spoke yesterday about the shorts of Nigeria and the top of the US. I just said to him it is bad luck to break the set.

​”Could have been the shorts of France, Italy or Spain, I would have said the same thing. I was just having a little joke with him, saying that it will be bad luck. Not Nigeria is bad luck, but to break the set, because you go as a set.

​”I even said that I love Naija. And by the way, I do. I have my respect for Nigeria and the people there. A lot of Arsenal fans, by the way out there, so don't misunderstand that stuff, please.

​”Nigeria is never bad luck. I was just saying breaking the set is bad luck with any other shorts.”

​In reality, Henry did not say anything wrong. It was just a harmless joke that he could have made about any other country. Now that he has made the clarification, he will be hoping that he is left off the hook.