Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has singled out Alex Iwobi as the quiet driving force behind Nigeria’s impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign, insisting the Fulham midfielder has been the team’s tactical heartbeat despite the headlines dominated by Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
Nigeria booked their place in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals with a commanding 4–0 victory over Mozambique in Fes, a match in which Lookman’s brace and Osimhen’s ruthless finishing grabbed the spotlight.
However, Chelle was quick to stress that the foundation of the performance lay in Iwobi’s intelligence, composure and control in midfield.
The 29-year-old delivered one of his most complete displays in a Super Eagles shirt, orchestrating Nigeria’s attacking play, initiating the first two goals and dictating the tempo as the West Africans cruised to victory.
“There are some players who smell football,” Chelle said after the match. “Iwobi has a big football IQ.
He sees the game before others and technically he is very good. Since the start of the AFCON, we have seen how important he is.
He is like the team itself. I’m very proud of him and the players.”Deployed alongside Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, Iwobi has provided the balance that allows Nigeria’s attacking stars to flourish.
His influence was evident earlier in the tournament when he supplied the two assists in the 2–1 win over Tanzania, Nigeria’s opening victory of the competition.Against Mozambique, Iwobi went beyond assists, repeatedly breaking defensive lines with his movement and early decision-making, controlling the match from deep while enabling Lookman and Osimhen to deliver the decisive moments.
Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh echoed Chelle’s assessment during his analysis on CAF TV, describing Iwobi as the unseen architect of Nigeria’s attacking dominance.“All this started from Iwobi. That’s what we call the pre-assist pass,” Oliseh said.
“The goal gets the attention, but it’s the pass before the assist that really destroys the defense.”
As the game progressed, Oliseh continued to highlight Iwobi’s range and vision, praising his ability to influence play from deeper positions.Nigeria’s emphatic win over Mozambique not only secured a quarter-final berth but also delivered their first clean sheet of the tournament, underlining the growing balance in Chelle’s side.
The Super Eagles will now travel to Marrakech for their quarter-final clash on Sunday, January 10, where they will face the winner of the Round of 16 showdown between Algeria and DR Congo, with Iwobi once again expected to be central to Nigeria’s ambitions of a fourth continental title.
