In just days from now, Morocco will take centre stage as hosts of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the 35th edition. After the spectacle of AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast, a tournament that dazzled with drama and flair, expectations are high, and Morocco looks ready to outshine it all.
For the Super Eagles of Nigeria, it’s a chance to redeem themselves after the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and perhaps an opportunity to go one better after losing the final to hosts Ivory Coast at the last edition.
Lately, the Super Eagles have struggled to inspire. Too often, the team falters, and more often than not, Victor Osimhen carries the weight on his shoulders. So much so that the squad has earned the nickname ‘the Osimhen team,’ a label that the results painfully reinforce whenever he isn’t on the pitch. But as much as Osimhen carries the team, there are still other key players who help it thrive, and one of them is Alex Iwobi.
Alex Iwobi? Yes, Alex Iwobi. Too often, Nigerian fans have been quick to judge, dismissing his performances for the Super Eagles. But that criticism is frequently misplaced. Quietly, subtly, he does the hard work that keeps the team moving. The kind of influence that rarely makes the headlines but can define a campaign.
“Take the last AFCON, for example. Many fans were quick to criticise Alex Iwobi, claiming he didn’t contribute enough in attack. What they often overlooked, however, was that he was following instructions, executing a role that demanded more discipline than flair or creativity.
“I have been told to manage the ball and keep the ball for my team.
“The role me and Frank are told to do is to control the game as much as we can, and defend as a team,’’ Iwobi said in an interview at the time.
The numbers tell the story of just how influential he was, even without the licence to roam in attack.
According to FotMob, he finished the tournament with an average pass accuracy of 81.2 percent, impressive for a player instructed to operate deeper, often inside his own half.
And despite not being a natural defensive midfielder, he posted a remarkable 95.6 percent ball recovery. That alone shows how comfortably he adapted to a role that wasn’t built for him. In a position that demanded discipline over expression, he still found a way to thrive, both with and without the ball.
At times, Alex Iwobi’s performances for the national team are shaped as much by his role as by his form. Under Eric Chelle, for instance, he has again been asked to play deeper in a 4-4-2, a position that naturally limits his freedom on the ball.
Some will argue that a player should adapt to any system, any role. Football rarely works that neatly. Just look at Fulham: under Marco Silva, in a structure that suits him, Iwobi thrives week after week. So why, then, does the narrative persist that he isn’t good enough or doesn’t give his best for the Super Eagles?
At Fulham this season, his impact has been clear. He’s completed 98 percent of his passes, adding two goals and two assists in the Premier League, steady, reliable contributions that underline just how effective he can be in a system built around his strengths.
Data aside, the issue often lies with perception. Many fans watch without an open mind. Yes, Alex Iwobi has had bad games for Nigeria, every player in world football has. But for some reason, whenever the Super Eagles struggle, he becomes the easy scapegoat. Why? One reason is because of a few misplaced passes that stick in the memory.
Creative midfielders everywhere take risks on the ball. They misplace passes; it comes with the territory. What matters is whether those errors happen in dangerous zones or spark transitions for the opposition, and that’s the thing with Iwobi. He rarely gives the ball away in areas that expose his team.
The stats already back him as a crucial figure for the Super Eagles. Using the last AFCON as the reference point, because that is the focus here, it becomes clear how important Alex Iwobi is to this team for Nigeria in Morocco. You may not appreciate him, you may not always recognise the value he brings, but the truth remains simple, he is indispensable.
