Nigerian activist and social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has unleashed a torrent of criticism following the Super Eagles' heartbreaking exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
An Emotional Outburst Over Semi-Final Defeat
In a video shared on his Instagram, a visibly upset VDM reacted to Nigeria's 4-2 semi-final loss to Morocco in the ongoing tournament. The activist, who traveled from Nigeria to watch the match live, did not hold back his disappointment, lamenting the waste of his time and money spent supporting the national team.
VDM directed sharp criticism at specific players he believed underperformed on the big stage. Samuel Chukwueze was the primary target of his ire. Despite the winger's experience in European football, VDM accused him of playing "rubbish" and appearing clueless on the pitch, particularly highlighting his failure during the crucial penalty shootout.
Praise for Bassey Amidst the Criticism
However, it wasn't all condemnation from the activist. He singled out defender Calvin Bassey for praise, acknowledging that the player put in a strong individual performance but was ultimately let down by the collective failure of the team.
VDM also turned his attention to the match officials, claiming the referee's performance was blatantly unfair to the Nigerian side. He stated that the poor officiating was obvious for all to see, using strong language to emphasize his point about the referee's role in the defeat.
Fan Reactions and Past Controversies
The video sparked a flurry of reactions from fans and followers online. Some agreed with his assessment of the referee, while others humorously suggested that the presence of celebrities like VDM at the match might have brought bad luck to the Super Eagles.
This is not the first time VeryDarkMan has publicly criticized the Super Eagles. Just a few weeks prior, during a public feud between star striker Victor Osimhen and teammate Ademola Lookman, VDM openly called out Osimhen, warning him about his conduct on the field.
The semi-final loss on January 15, 2026, marks a disappointing end to Nigeria's campaign in the tournament, leaving fans and commentators like VDM to dissect what went wrong for the three-time African champions.
