‘Not What You Think’ — Iwobi clears air on viral Super Eagles hotel video

Femi Fabunmi 

A new twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding the video shared by Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi, which appeared to show the team’s lodging conditions ahead of Thursday’s World Cup qualifying clash in Morocco.

The video, which went viral on social media, drew outrage from Nigerian fans who described the facility as “substandard” and “unbefitting” for the national team. Many compared it to a school hostel, sparking a heated online debate about the treatment of Nigerian players.

However, new findings have revealed that the building in Iwobi’s video was not the team’s official hotel.

According to reliable sources, the Super Eagles are actually lodged at the New Grade Hotel, a much more luxurious facility located near the initially shown building.

The clip, reportedly filmed in a cheap short-let apartment close to the team’s main hotel, had been misinterpreted by many as the players’ actual accommodation.

In response to the growing controversy, Iwobi clarified that he never made any derogatory comment about the hotel. “I didn’t say anything; I just showed the video,” the Fulham midfielder was quoted as saying, suggesting that his post was taken out of context.

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are yet to issue an official statement, but sources within the camp insist that the team’s accommodation in Morocco meets international standards.

The Super Eagles are currently preparing for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff fixture.