Eric Chelle Applauds Alex Iwobi’s Midfield Brilliance After Super Eagles’ 4–0 Rout Of Mozambique

When Nigeria thrashed Mozambique 4–0 in the AFCON Round of 16, the headlines naturally gravitated toward the goalscorers. Ademola Lookman dazzled, Victor Osimhen delivered, and Akor Adams announced himself on the big stage.

But for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, the real story unfolded quietly in midfield — and its author was Alex Iwobi.

The Brain Behind Nigeria’s Dominance

While goals win matches, control wins tournaments. Against Mozambique, Alex Iwobi was the conductor of Nigeria’s symphony, dictating tempo, breaking defensive lines, and making the game look effortless.

The Fulham midfielder once again displayed why he has become indispensable to this Super Eagles side, pulling strings and turning pressure into precision. His vision and composure left Mozambique chasing shadows as Nigeria imposed themselves from start to finish.

Iwobi’s performance took his tournament tally to three assists so far, underlining his creative influence at AFCON 2025.

Eric Chelle’s High Praise For Iwobi

Speaking after the emphatic win in Fes, Eric Chelle couldn’t hide his admiration for the former Arsenal man.

“You know some players can smell the football,” Chelle said.
“Iwobi has a high IQ. He sees the game before other players, and he is technically very good. Since AFCON started, you can see how good he is.”

 

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It was a glowing endorsement — and one that reflects Iwobi’s growing maturity and tactical intelligence in Nigeria’s midfield setup.

Consistency Is The Next Challenge

Despite the praise, Chelle was quick to challenge his midfield general to maintain these standards as the competition intensifies.

“The most important thing now is to do that game after game. Alex has to stay focused and be consistent,” the Malian tactician added.

With knockout football offering no margin for error, Nigeria will rely heavily on Iwobi’s calm presence and decision-making as the stakes rise.

Eyes On The Quarter-Finals

The Super Eagles now turn their attention to Marrakech, where they will face the winner of the highly anticipated clash between DR Congo and Algeria in Sunday’s quarter-final showdown.

With confidence soaring and key players hitting top form, Nigeria’s pursuit of a fourth continental crown is gathering serious momentum — and Alex Iwobi is right at the heart of it.

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