Millions of Nigerian social media users have apparently in shock and disappointment blamed the country’s President Muhamadou Buhari, for the elimination of the Super Eagles from the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
They claim, a late night call the President made to the team before they faced the Cattage Eagles of Tunishia Sunday in the round of 16 of the AFCON brought ill luck to the Super Eagles.
Tunishia defeated Nigeria in that encounter yesterday by one goal to zero.
Tunisia surprised many fans by beating the Super Eagles at the Roumde Adja Stadium in Garoua. Nigeria had sailed through the group stage winning all its three matches.
It was already rated as the favourite to clinch the trophy..
On social media, Nigerians transferred their aggression to President Mohammadu Buhari, who, in a video call on Sunday morning, hailed the Super Eagles for demonstrating “patriotic zeal and a high level of discipline, determination and commitment in all the games”.
One social media user, Emmanuel Osaro, said: “Buhari is a bad luck from all ramifications, anybody or team he calls before they play a game lost. He called Anthony Joshua before his match, he lost and he called the Super Eagles same thing”.
Another, David Ogbonnaya said: “Buhari called Super Eagles to motivate them today. The result is out.”
According to Joseph Ikechukwu, the Super Eagles “were doing so well until uncle Buhari called to motivate them”. However, there are several other Nigerians who accepted the defeat as normal, stating that it was natural for the Super Eagles to have been defeated.
The Super Eagles now retire back to Nigeria where they will be preparing to face Ghana in the World Cup qualifiers in March.