Popular social media commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM) has issued a strong condemnation of the wave of tribal vitriol directed at the Igbo ethnic group and footballer Samuel Chukwueze in the aftermath of Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations exit.
Online Backlash Follows Penalty Shootout Heartbreak
The controversy erupted on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, after the Super Eagles lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout to host nation Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 AFCON tournament. The match had ended goalless after 120 minutes of play.
During the decisive shootout, Paul Onuachu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru successfully converted their kicks for Nigeria. However, winger Samuel Chukwueze saw his attempt saved, and defender Bruno Onyemaechi also had his penalty stopped, leading to the team's elimination.
VDM Calls Out Divisive Tribal Rhetoric
In a video posted online, VeryDarkMan addressed the disturbing trend on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where some users blamed the loss on players of Igbo origin. He highlighted posts and caricatures that singled out "Igbo boys" for the missed penalties, with some comments even veering into political insinuations about Biafra.
"If you want to understand where the instigation of tribalism starts, it's always on Twitter," VDM stated. He criticized what he described as a political strategy aimed at sowing division among Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections, fueled by faceless accounts seeking attention.
He urged fans to separate football from ethnicity, writing in a caption: "The future of Nigeria is in the hands of youth that use serious topics to spew hate all in the name of cruise... there is no future anywhere with so much insensitivity all in the name of bants."
Mixed Reactions from Social Media Users
The commentator's video sparked a flurry of reactions online, revealing a divided public sentiment:
- @pegasusatlas pointed out a perceived double standard: "When Yakubu missed an open net, nobody made it a tribal thing but the moment an Igbo person does wrong, y'all can't me out."
- @engr_oladaporidwan called for unity: "Truth be told... tribalism can never solve the problem we have facing because either Yoruba Igbo or Hausa we are all facing the heat of the government."
- Others, like @itarinice, dismissed VDM's stance with a simple "This guy no get sense."
This incident is not isolated. Actress Nkechi Blessing had also previously criticized Chukwueze for his penalty miss, though without tribal connotations. The event underscores how high-stakes sports moments can sometimes become a flashpoint for deeper societal tensions in Nigeria.
VeryDarkMan's intervention serves as a reminder of the need for national unity and the danger of allowing sporting disappointments to be framed through a divisive ethnic lens.
