Thierry Henry apologises to Nigerians after facing criticism over remarks he made during a FIFA World Cup broadcast involving popular streamer IShowSpeed and Nigeria’s national team.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona star addressed the controversy in a video statement, explaining that his comments were intended as a joke and were not meant to disrespect Nigeria or its people.
The incident occurred during a World Cup broadcast when IShowSpeed appeared wearing Nigeria shorts paired with a United States Men’s National Team jersey. Reacting to the unusual combination, Henry jokingly said, “I love Nigeria, but not today. Today is USA for you.”
IShowSpeed immediately questioned the comment, asking, “What’s wrong with Nigeria?”
Henry responded by clarifying, “Nigeria is great.” However, after Paraguay scored against the United States during the match, he jokingly blamed the streamer’s outfit.
“You see? You bring bad luck. That’s you bringing bad luck,” Henry said.
While the comment was made in a light-hearted manner, many Nigerian football fans interpreted it differently. Several social media users criticized the football legend, arguing that the remarks were insensitive and unfairly linked Nigeria to bad luck.
The backlash quickly gained traction online, prompting Henry to release a follow-up video to explain what he actually meant.
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In the video, Henry stressed that his comments had been misunderstood and that the joke was about mixing different national team outfits rather than Nigeria itself.
“I needed to clarify something because I don’t think people understand when you say stuff sometimes or when a joke is a joke,” Henry said.
The French football icon explained that he was referring to the tradition of wearing matching football kits rather than combining pieces from different countries.
“So I just spoke yesterday about the shorts of Nigeria and the top of the US. I just said to him it is bad luck to break the set,” he explained.
Henry emphasized that the same joke could have been made regardless of the country involved.
“Could have been the shorts of France, Italy or Spain; I would have said the same thing. I was just having a little joke with him, saying that it will be bad luck.”
The former striker further clarified that he was never suggesting that Nigeria itself was unlucky.
“Not Nigeria is bad luck, but to break the set, because you go as a set,” he said.
Henry also took the opportunity to reaffirm his admiration and respect for Nigeria, noting the strong connection between the country and his former club, Arsenal.
“I even said that I love Naija. And by the way, I do. I have my respect for Nigeria and the people there. A lot of Arsenal fans, by the way, out there, so don’t misunderstand that stuff, please.”
The football legend concluded his message by reiterating that his comments were purely about fashion and football superstition, not about Nigeria.
“Nigeria is never bad luck. I was just saying breaking the set is bad luck with any other shorts.”
The clarification has generated mixed reactions online. While many Nigerians accepted Henry’s explanation and appreciated his willingness to address the controversy, others maintained that public figures should be more careful with jokes that could be interpreted negatively by large audiences.
Henry remains one of the most respected figures in world football. The former France international enjoyed a successful career with clubs including Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and AS Monaco. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation and remains a popular football pundit and analyst.
The incident highlights how comments made during live broadcasts can quickly spark debate on social media, especially when they involve national identity and passionate football supporters.
For many fans, Henry’s apology and clarification demonstrated his respect for Nigeria and his desire to ensure that his remarks were not taken out of context. As discussions continue online, the football legend has made it clear that he holds Nigeria and its people in high regard and never intended to portray the country negatively.
