British rapper Dave has stirred controversy after appearing to diss Nigerian footballers in one of the tracks on his new album, “The Boy Who Play The Harp.” In the song titled “Chapter 16,” Dave compares women who lie about their age to Nigerian strikers, rapping, “Hes lying about their age like Nigerian strikers.”* The lyric has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions from fans, especially Nigerians who accused him of disrespecting the country’s footballers.

Many social media users criticised the rapper for making a sweeping generalisation about Nigerian athletes, arguing that while age-cheating scandals have been reported in the country’s football history, it was unfair to label all Nigerian strikers as dishonest. Some, however, defended Dave, suggesting that the line was merely a clever play on stereotypes often used in rap culture.

Interestingly, Dave, whose full name is David Orobosa Omoregie, has Nigerian roots, as his parents are originally from Edo State. The British-born artist is known for maintaining strong ties with Nigeria’s entertainment scene. He has collaborated with top Nigerian stars, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tems, who also features on his latest album.

While the lyric has reignited global conversations about age-cheating in football, many Nigerians view it as an unnecessary jab from someone with Nigerian heritage. In the past, Nigeria’s U-17 men’s national team was disbanded after investigations revealed cases of age falsification, a scandal that has since haunted the country’s youth football programs.

Dave’s track, however, has brought the issue back into the spotlight, sparking a broader debate about how negative stereotypes are portrayed in pop culture. Whether the lyric was meant as satire or criticism, it has undoubtedly made “The Boy Who Play The Harp” one of the most talked-about albums of the moment.