Super Eagles and Real Sociedad star, Sadiq Umar, has hit back at cyberbullies who have been harassing him online following the Super Eagles’ defeat to Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Umar, who did not feature in the tournament due to injury, said he has received abusive and threatening messages from some people after the game on Sunday.
Super Eagles playmaker Alex Iwobi has also been the target of online hate and blame for the loss to the hosts Cote d’Ivoire. The cyberbullying has sparked outrage and condemnation from Super Eagles players, the Minister of Sports, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and other stakeholders.
In a post shared on his Instagram story, Sadiq Umar warned that he is not Alex Iwobi and will not tolerate any disrespect from anyone.
“I no even play you con dey insult me. You think say I be Iwobi? Abeg go find another person to troll. If you try me again, I go give you better yab. No dey use your mouth invite trouble,” he wrote.
Umar, who has scored three goals in 23 appearances for Real Sociedad this season, also expressed his support and solidarity with his teammates and urged Nigerians to be proud of their achievements.
“We tried our best to make our country proud. We reached the final and we fought hard. It was not our day, but we are still champions in our hearts. I stand with my brothers, especially Iwobi. He is a great player and a great person. He does not deserve the hate he is getting. Please let us show love and respect to our Super Eagles.” he added.
Cyberbullying is a form of bullying or harassment using electronic means. It can affect the mental health, physical health and safety of the victims.
According to UNICEF, cyberbullying can be persistent, permanent and hard to notice. It can also harm the online reputations of everyone involved, including the bullies. UNICEF advises young people to report any case of cyberbullying to a trusted adult, a helpline or the platform where it occurs. It also provides tips and resources on how to stop cyberbullying and deal with its effects.
