By Desmond Ogbonmwan
Football legend Thierry Henry has apologised to Nigerians after a comment he made during a live broadcast with popular streamer IShowSpeed sparked criticism on social media.
The former Arsenal and France striker came under fire after reacting to IShowSpeed’s outfit during a football broadcast. The streamer was wearing Nigeria shorts alongside a United States Men’s National Team jersey.
Reacting to the combination, Henry jokingly said:
“I love Nigeria, but not today. Today is USA for you.”
IShowSpeed immediately questioned the remark, asking:
“What’s wrong with Nigeria?”
Henry responded by praising Nigeria, saying:
“Nigeria is great.”
However, after Paraguay scored against the United States during the match, Henry jokingly blamed the streamer.
“You see? You bring bad luck. That’s you bringing bad luck.”
The comment quickly generated reactions online, with some Nigerian fans interpreting it as a slight against the country and describing the remark as disrespectful.
Henry Issues Clarification
Following the backlash, Henry released a video explaining the context of the comment and insisting that his remarks were misunderstood.
According to the football icon, the joke had nothing to do with Nigeria but was instead about mixing different national team outfits.
“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.
He explained that he would have made the same comment if IShowSpeed had mixed jerseys and shorts from any other countries.
“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.
“Could have been the shorts of France, Italy or Spain; I would have said the same thing.”
‘Nigeria Is Never Bad Luck’
Henry stressed that he has great respect for Nigeria and its people, noting that many Arsenal supporters come from the country.
“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 former Barcelona forward added:
“Nigeria is never bad luck. I was just saying breaking the set is bad luck with any other shorts.”
Nigerians React
The clarification has continued to generate mixed reactions online.
While some fans accepted Henry’s explanation and described the controversy as a misunderstanding, others argued that public figures should be more careful with their words, particularly when speaking about countries and national identities.
The incident highlights the influence of social media, where comments made during live broadcasts can quickly attract global attention and spark debate among fans.
Henry remains one of the most respected figures in world football, particularly among Nigerian supporters due to his legendary career with Arsenal, where he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Watch the videos below.
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