Thierry Henry apologises to Nigerians over ‘bad luck’ comment about Super Eagles shorts

Former France international and football legend Thierry Henry has apologised to Nigerians after describing a pair of Nigerian Super Eagles shorts as “bad luck” during a live broadcast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The incident occurred during coverage of the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay when popular American streamer Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, appeared in the broadcast booth wearing Nigerian Super Eagles shorts.

Reacting to the outfit, Henry jokingly referred to the shorts as “bad luck,” a comment that quickly drew criticism from Nigerian football fans on social media, many of whom considered the remark disrespectful to the country’s national team.

Following the backlash, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker issued an apology, clarifying that the comment was intended as a light-hearted joke and not as an insult to Nigeria or the Super Eagles.

Henry expressed respect for Nigeria and its football culture, acknowledging the passion and support of Nigerian fans around the world. He said he regretted any offence caused by the remark and stressed that he holds the country and its national team in high regard.

The apology has generated mixed reactions online, with some fans accepting the explanation, while others argued that public figures should be more careful when making comments about national teams and their supporters.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles remain one of Africa’s most celebrated football teams, enjoying a large and passionate fan base both at home and across the globe.