French football legend Thierry Henry has issued an apology to Nigerians following backlash over a remark he made about the Super Eagles jersey during a live 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast.
The incident occurred during coverage of the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay, where Henry appeared alongside popular American streamer IShowSpeed, who was wearing Nigerian Super Eagles shorts.
Henry jokingly described the outfit as “bad luck,” a comment that quickly drew widespread criticism from Nigerian football fans on social media. Responding to the backlash, Henry clarified that the remark was a light-hearted joke and was never intended as disrespect to Nigeria or its national team.
“I apologise to Nigerians if my comment offended anyone. It was never intended as a sign of disrespect,” Henry said.The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker also acknowledged the passion of Nigerian fans and praised the country’s contribution to football over the years.
While many fans accepted the apology, others used the moment to celebrate the Super Eagles’ rich history, including three Africa Cup of Nations titles and a long list of players who have starred in Europe’s top leagues. Video clips of the exchange continue to circulate online, fuelled in part by IShowSpeed’s massive global audience.
