By Afriktimes has monitored and reviewed reactions on social media following the Super Eagles defeat to Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations semi final, and found that Nigerian footballer Samuel Chukwueze has been heavily targeted by online abuse.
The online attacks began after Chukwueze missed a penalty during the shootout that led to Nigeria’s elimination from the tournament. Shortly after the match, Afriktimes observed a flood of comments on platforms such as X Instagram and Facebook blaming the winger for the loss.
Many social media users criticised Chukwueze’s penalty kick, while others went further by making personal attacks against him. Some posts called him careless, unserious and unfit to wear the national jersey. Afriktimes also noted comments suggesting he should quit the Super Eagles, while others insulted his character rather than his performance.
Videos and photos of the player leaving the stadium were shared online and used by some users to mock him. Afriktimes found that these posts attracted thousands of comments, many of which were abusive and emotionally charged.
However, Afriktimes also observed that not all reactions were negative. Some Nigerians defended Chukwueze, urging fans to remember that football is a team sport and that penalty misses are common even among top players. Supporters called for understanding and warned against cyber bullying, saying such attacks could affect a player’s mental health.
Sports analysts who reacted onlineadvised Nigerians to criticise with caution.They stressed that Chukwueze was introduced late into the match and had little time to settle before taking the penalty.
Afriktimes’ review shows that the incident has reopened discussions about how Nigerian fans treat athletes after major losses. While disappointment over the defeat remains high, the level of hostility directed at Chukwueze has raised concerns about online bullying in Nigerian sports discourse.
As of the time of this report, Samuel Chukwueze has not issued an official response to the online criticism.
