Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has openly criticized Alex Iwobi. His comments followed a controversial video shared by the Fulham midfielder. This video emerged just before the Super Eagles’ World Cup playoff. Nigeria secured a 4-1 victory against Gabon in that series.

The Super Eagles were staying at the Rive Hotel. Iwobi’s video showed aspects of their accommodation. While it lacked narration, many Nigerians reacted strongly. They questioned the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) preparations for the crucial match.

Iwobi, an Arsenal academy product, later clarified his intentions. He stated he did not mean to criticize the hotel. Nor did he aim to fault the football authorities. However, for many supporters, the perceived damage was already done.

Mikel Obi’s View on the Incident

Speaking on the ‘Obi One Podcast,’ Mikel Obi expressed his views. He felt the video post was ill-timed. Such a post could introduce needless negativity into the team’s camp.

Mikel acknowledged the video might have been posted innocently. “But as a player based in Europe, used to good accommodation, you should know better,” he stated. He stressed the timing was poor, just two days before a vital game.

“Don’t share such content,” Mikel advised. He noted the immediate negative comments. “You don’t want that negativity ahead of playoff games,” he added. Mikel concluded by saying, “If I were captain, I would have told him to remove it immediately. Take it off Instagram; we don’t need it.”

Super Eagles’ Playoff Journey

Despite the off-field concerns, Nigeria triumphed over Gabon in the semi-final playoff. The match required extra time. In the other semi-final, DR Congo overcame Cameroon.

However, the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification hopes ended in the final playoff. They suffered a 4-3 defeat to DR Congo on Sunday night. This loss concluded their World Cup qualification journey.