AFCON 2023: Alex Iwobi aware of the stakes in Nigeria-Angola quarter-final match-up

Jose Peseiro fielded Alex Iwobi as a central midfielder in Nigeria’s games against Ivory Coast and Cameroon as he partnered Brentford’s Frank Onyeka in midfield.

Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder, Alex Iwobi has revealed his awareness of the threat that Angola pose in Nigeria’s journey to success in Ivory Coast.

Iwobi, 27, has featured in all of Nigeria’s games at the AFCON 2023 tournament, starting three and coming off the bench in the team’s 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in their final group game.

The versatile midfielder played a huge part in Nigeria’s round of sixteen triumph over Cameroon but is aware that the game against Angola will be even tougher.

“We’re trying to see where to explore to see where their weakness is. As the coach said, it’s a game where both teams want to go to a semi-final and it will be tough. It was a bit different last time out as we scored two goals but we’ve been defending well too. So it’ll be a hard game but hopefully, we do what we need to do to break into their half,” the former Arsenal man said in his pre-match conference.

The former Everton player is known for his prowess in the final third but has been playing in a deeper midfield role for Jose Peseiro, and he explained the coach’s instructions.

“I’ve been told to manage and keep the ball for my team. They don’t really need much from me when they’re creating up-front. There’s Chukwueze, Moses, Lookman and Victor who can do that so we have a lot of creativity. I and Frank have been told to control the game as much as we can, and first of all, to defend as a team. I’m trying to do my job for the team,” Iwobi added.

The Super Eagles will face the Palences Negras of Angola tomorrow afternoon by 6:00 PM tomorrow at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.