Mikel Obi Condemns Alex Iwobi's Social Media Post
Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has publicly expressed his disappointment with fellow Nigerian international Alex Iwobi over a controversial social media post made just days before Nigeria's crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff matches in Morocco.
The incident occurred when Iwobi, who plays for Fulham in the English Premier League, shared a video clip showing the environment and state of the team's accommodation at Rive Hotel in Morocco. This action sparked immediate backlash from Nigerian football fans and stakeholders alike.
Controversy Erupts Over Player Welfare
The video shared by Iwobi drew widespread criticism from supporters who questioned the Nigeria Football Federation about player welfare and preparation standards for the decisive World Cup qualification matches. Many fans took to social media to express their concerns about the conditions shown in the clip, creating significant negative attention around the team during a critical period.
Nigeria's Super Eagles had been preparing for their semi-final clash against Gabon, which they eventually won 4-1, before losing to DR Congo via penalties and missing out on World Cup qualification. The timing of Iwobi's post, coming barely two days before the important Gabon match, made the situation particularly sensitive.
Mikel Obi's Strong Reaction
Speaking on his popular Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder did not hold back his thoughts about the incident. Mikel acknowledged that Iwobi might have posted the video innocently, but emphasized that as an experienced professional playing in Europe, he should have known better.
"Again, Alex Iwobi that picture, maybe it was taken innocently and him posting it up," Mikel stated. "But again, as a player, playing in Europe, living in nice accommodation, you should have known better, two days before the game. Don't put that up, I read the comments, you don't want those negativity, you don't want that around two days before the playoff games."
The former national team captain revealed that if he were still in charge, he would have immediately instructed Iwobi to remove the content from social media. Mikel emphasized that such actions create unnecessary distractions and negativity that can affect team focus during crucial competitions.
"If I was the captain, I would tell him to take that down straight away. Take it off your Instagram, take it down, we don't need that," Mikel added. "For me, those are the things that maybe Alex posted that picture innocently, for some reasons, whether it was frustration or not, but don't put it up on social media."
Iwobi's Response and Aftermath
Following the controversy, Alex Iwobi later released another video attempting to clarify his intentions behind the original post. The midfielder explained that he had no malicious intent and was simply sharing what he was seeing from his perspective.
"You see, in life, it's all about perspective because I snapped at the view I have and people are thinking these guys are ungrateful," Iwobi stated in his defense.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of Nigeria's failed World Cup qualification campaign, which saw the Super Eagles miss out on the 2026 tournament after their penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo. This disappointing outcome has led to increased scrutiny of all aspects of the team's preparation and management.
Meanwhile, some Nigerian football fans have called for coach Eric Chelle to drop several players from the national team setup following the qualification failure, though Iwobi's place in the squad remains secure despite the social media controversy.
