Tremendous Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has reserved particular reward for Alex Iwobi following Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Mozambique on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), figuring out the midfielder because the cerebral drive behind the crew’s rising authority on the match.
Whereas Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman dominated the headlines with their objectives and cutting-edge play, Chelle was eager to shift focus to Iwobi’s delicate however decisive contribution, stressing that Nigeria’s management and rhythm stemmed from the Fulham midfielder’s intelligence and quietness in possession.
Talking after the Spherical of 16 encounter in Fes, Chelle highlighted Iwobi’s tactical consciousness and technical high quality.
“There are gamers who perceive soccer at a unique stage,” Chelle stated throughout his post-match briefing.
“Alex Iwobi has a really excessive soccer IQ. He reads conditions early, he makes the correct selections, and technically he provides us so much.
“From the beginning of this AFCON, you’ll be able to see how vital he’s to the crew. He represents the stability of the facet. The problem now’s to maintain this normal in each match.”
Deployed in a midfield trio alongside Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, Iwobi served because the hyperlink between defence and assault, dictating tempo, recycling possession and permitting Nigeria’s forwards to function with freedom and confidence.
The 29-year-old performed a key function within the early exchanges towards Mozambique, serving to provoke the sequences that produced Nigeria’s opening objectives and repeatedly exploiting areas with clever motion and fast distribution.
Iwobi’s affect has been evident all through the match.
In Nigeria’s 2–1 group-stage victory over Tanzania, he supplied two assists for the Tremendous Eagles’ first objectives of the competitors, underlining his significance lengthy earlier than the knockout rounds.
Towards Mozambique, his affect was not outlined by numbers alone. Iwobi managed proceedings from deep, making certain Nigeria remained compact with out the ball and purposeful with it.
Former Tremendous Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh strengthened Chelle’s evaluation throughout his evaluation on CAF TV, drawing consideration to Iwobi’s function within the build-up to Nigeria’s objectives.
“That is the place the aim actually begins,” Oliseh defined. “Folks speak concerning the end or the help, however it’s the cross earlier than that opens up the defence. That intelligence is what Iwobi brings.”
Nigeria’s dominant show not solely sealed a quarter-final berth but additionally produced their first clear sheet of the match, an indication that Chelle’s facet are hanging the correct stability between solidity and attacking aptitude.
The Tremendous Eagles will now shift focus to the quarter-finals in Marrakech, the place they’re set to face both Algeria or DR Congo as they proceed their quest for a fourth AFCON crown.
