A casual online exchange about football has led to a surprising digital transformation for a Nigerian man, highlighting the immense power of social media algorithms during major continental events like the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Viral Post That Sparked a Continent-Wide Conversation
The incident occurred in the wake of Nigeria's thrilling victory over Algeria in the AFCON 2025 quarter-final on January 11, 2025. A Nigerian X user, Fola Olatunji-David (@folasanwo), took to the platform to share a bizarre change he observed on his account.
He revealed that engaging in light-hearted football banter with supporters from other African nations had completely reshaped his social media experience. His "For You" page, previously tailored to his interests, was suddenly inundated with posts written in French and Arabic.
"Just small football banter from yesterday’s game, now my whole For You page has changed to French and Arabic. I don translate tire," Olatunji-David wrote. He also humorously noted the widespread sentiment against Algeria, adding, "Also seems no one wanted Algeria to win, like 5 countries dey banter them after that game."
A Shared Experience Across the Platform
His post resonated instantly, triggering a flood of replies from other Nigerian users who reported identical algorithmic shifts. It became clear this was not an isolated glitch but a widespread phenomenon.
User @lekkyfun confirmed, "I no even banter them but the same is happening on my for you TL, I have never translated as many tweets in my twitter experience as I have done over the last 20hrs." Another user, @tchinemelum, expressed frustration, stating he had to ask an AI tool to revert his timeline, as nine out of ten tweets were in Arabic.
The situation became so intense that some, like @DJennieJay, escalated from using the in-app translator to employing Google Lens to decipher graphics and posters. Many joked about the unintended linguistic immersion, with @Oluwatobi quipping, "By the time AFCON finishes, I’ll be fluent in French and Arabic."
Beyond the Algorithm: Cultural Exposure and Continental Rivalries
While the constant need for translation was a common complaint, some users found a silver lining in the unexpected cultural exposure. One user described the experience as "the most geopolitical education I’ve had in decades," appreciating the unique insight into perspectives from across Africa.
The reactions underscored a key point: AFCON rivalries transcend the 90 minutes on the pitch. They spill over into digital spaces, connecting and sometimes clashing cultures. As one user succinctly put it, "The rivalry with North Africans is enough to change your page. Don’t play with them. You will learn Arabic and French by force."
The episode served as a real-time case study on how engagement—even seemingly minor interactions like liking, quoting, or replying to posts in different languages during a heated sporting moment—can unintentionally train algorithms to redefine a user's entire content landscape.
This social media shift unfolded against the backdrop of Algeria's official petition to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their defeat. The Algerian Football Federation cited issues including a missed penalty and referee conduct, prompting an investigation by CAF into the post-match events.
