By Monsurah Olatunji
Former England striker Eniola Aluko has apologised to Arsenal legend Ian Wright after suggesting he may be taking up space that could otherwise go to women in football punditry.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Aluko referenced Wright while discussing the lack of opportunities for women in sports broadcasting.
Her remarks were widely criticised, particularly given Wright’s long-standing support for the women’s game.
Wright, a respected pundit and vocal ally of women’s football, recently made headlines for personally funding the rehabilitation of injured Stoke City player Kayleigh McDonald, contributing £1,700 monthly, and previously donating £15,000 to support training for female grassroots coaches.
In a statement posted on social media, Aluko admitted she was wrong to single him out.
“Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women’s game has been significant,” she wrote.
“It was wrong for Ian’s name to be raised in that conversation, and for that, I sincerely apologise.”
Wright has since responded, saying he cannot accept the apology.
In a video shared on Instagram, he expressed disappointment, citing his support for Aluko in the past and his broader contributions to growing the women’s game.
“She knows how I’ve helped her and supported her publicly,” Wright said.
“I’ve seen the apology, but I can’t accept it. I also want to move on.”
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
