As Nigeria chases a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, midfielder Alex Iwobi has become the central figure in the Super Eagles’ attacking play, showcasing a level of influence and creativity long underappreciated.
The 29-year-old Fulham midfielder, who has previously operated in the shadows of his natural game, has transformed into a pivotal orchestrator for Nigeria. While his two assists at the tournament may seem modest, Opta data highlights Iwobi’s impact: he completed 36 line-breaking passes in the knockout stages alone — 22 against Mozambique in the round of 16 and 14 against Algeria in the quarter-final — totaling 46 defense-splitting passes, more than double that of any teammate.
Iwobi’s intelligence, positioning, and vision have consistently dismantled opposition defenses, feeding Nigeria’s attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams, who collectively have benefited from his precise supply line. Lookman has three goals and four assists, Osimhen four goals and two assists, and Adams two goals and two assists.
Despite being measured against the flair of his uncle, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, Iwobi has carved out his own identity, relying on decision-making and game intelligence rather than flashy skills. His quiet leadership and experience — he is Nigeria’s most capped player at the tournament with 95 appearances — have been key as the Super Eagles look to restore continental pride after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“I can say that any coach he plays under will always put him in the starting line-up because he offers a different kind of value to the team,” said his father, Chuba Iwobi, a former footballer. “Jay-Jay is his uncle, but Alex is his own person. Everyone can’t be Jay-Jay.”
Iwobi’s focus remains on team performance rather than individual accolades. “It doesn’t matter who performs as long as the team performs,” he said after Nigeria’s second game against Tunisia.
With his experience, vision, and leadership, Alex Iwobi has become the fulcrum of Nigeria’s midfield, quietly dictating play and proving indispensable in the Super Eagles’ push for AFCON glory, following their previous tournament victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
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