Monday, 17 May 2021: The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Sunday, berated Super Eagles stars, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, for displaying the Nigerian flag following their win against fellow English side, Chelsea to win their first ever FA Cup on Saturday.
CEOAFRICA reports that Iheanacho and Ndidi celebrated their win with their club, Leicester City defeated Chelsea by carrying the Nigerian flag.
Reacting, Kanu, took to his Twitter handle, condemning their actions.
@MaziNnamdiKanu wrote: “Gerard Pique is a World Cup winner with over 103 caps for Spain. He never turned his back against Catalonia freedom.
“Severally, he has shown open support for Catalan freedom.
“But our Iheanacho and Ndidi with Nigeria flag? Shame! Difference between White man and his Black counterparts.”
His statement sparked social media reactions as some Nigerians took to the micro-blogging platform to react.
CEOAFRICA captures some of their thoughts below:
@CountryDan93 writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu Do what you must do and leave these footballers out of it. If you did follow them you did see that they sing, communicate and promote the Igbo culture. Southern and some parts of Northern Nigeria supported them yesterday. They were only showing appreciation. Leave them out! ”
@KabiruJambil writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu A pure black man do racisms to his black counterparts, shame on you.”
@RuthMadaki1 writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu can they shine in peace please? Biafra no join them play match. They can choose to celebrate how they want to after all it was their personal victory. May God give them even greater career success.”
@Striving4Haqq writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu you are a fool, how many times will they tell you that this your dream can’t be actualized, it’s suicidal, Catalonia is a territory before Colonization and nothing like Biafra in history, Igbo nation never existed as a territory before Colonial era.”
@goonergerian writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu Baba rest joor..Both senior man Kelechi and Ndidi are members of the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s squad. The state of Biafra is not sovereign, recognised or known. As for Catalonia, they have their own flag as a state, Pique raising that flag doesn’t mean he supports secession.”
@AlaribeEmeka writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu not all athletes join sports with politics, after all many Africans are representing foreign teams, and flying their flags, that doesn’t mean their heart is there. Remember Dele Alli, Saka, etc play for England, and would surely fly the English flag than the green and white.”
@DAfirstQUEEN writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu perhaps they don’t like Biafran concept, not everyone does and I think u should respect that too. That is the difference between white man and his black counterparts.”
@Stanley24823919 writes: “@MaziNnamdiKanu yesterday marks the beginning of the end of my support to these Igbo (Ndidi and Iheanacho) of Leicester City Football Club, for displaying a terrorist Nigeria flag of Nigeria disappointed in you.”
