Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi had opened up on his thoughts after the AFCON final and what he felt could have been avoided going into the game or what they could have done better.
The Fulham player featured for Nigeria in all the games the country played at the recently concluded AFCON in Ivory Coast.
Iwobi who was playing in his third AFCON tournament since he made his debut in 2019 under coach Gernot Rohr in Egypt admitted that the Super Eagles' tactical approach in the final game against the host, coupled with some other factors couldn't have earned them a convincing outcome in the tie.
Iwobi opens up on Super Eagles AFCON final disappointment
Speaking on his Project 17 channel via YouTube, the project CEO (Iwobi) revealed the role he was asked to play in the tournament and why his creativity was supposedly very low.
“We were hoping that we could beat the host nation again in that final after we had done the same in the group stages but it wasn't meant to be,” stated the Fulham midfielder who has been in top form for the Cottagers since he returned from the AFCON.
When asked to expatiate more on how it went especially after Nigeria went 1-0 up in the final game, Iwobi admitted that the Super Eagles had no response to the approach of their opponents based on instructions received and that it was a tough game.
“We thought we could defend again like we have been defending in the whole tournament but the pressure was getting on and on and it was getting to us. The fans backed their team, we were unfazed about it but we just couldn't get the ball out of our half.”
Super Eagles ‘played according to the roles given to us' – Iwobi
He further went on to talk about what he felt went wrong in the final, “The weather was pretty hot and one was practically searching for air. Playing a game every four days in those conditions, not an excuse though but the conditions weren't friendly, Frank (Onyeka) and I were instructed to stay where we were, go for every second ball, run, keep the ball, manage it, change it from left to right, all you have to do is manage to the game,” he said.
“That was the role we were asked to play, you have to be there always because we have wingbacks like Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze that can at least support in the attack.
“The Ivorians have analyzed our games and they had Kessie (Franck), who was pinning me back so I was dropping deep because they weren't running towards Calvin Bassey, Seri (Jean Michel) was managing and dictating the play for them and it is hard for Victor (Osimhen) to dictate and control that one defender or one CDM upfront. And they've got Fofana on the other side who was trying to pin Franck back and we didn't know how to handle that.
“So, when you try to communicate, it's hard because the fans were a lot, we hardly could communicate, it was hard to adjust but we just had to do what we have been doing in all competition, stay defensive, come back but it was hard to press or even create chances,” he concluded.
Iwobi unfazed but condemns cyberbullying
The 27-year-old who was a victim of cyberbullying after being blamed for the poor performance in the final, an act that allegedly saw him go off social media, used his platform to share his thoughts and said that the reality of what happened post-AFCON with his socials were different from the perceived news.
He listened to a fan speaks on the show and afterwards described how football fans see games based on an outcome.
“That's fans for you, if we won that game, there would have been no complaints.
After he was substituted in the final game, he was still hoping that “his brothers on the pitch can still get the job done” but at that point, they can only discuss a possible solution on the bench and hope that the folks on the pitch can make something happen.
“I got tested after the game alongside Stanley Nwabali and we went doping with two Ivorians. I was disappointed with the result, so I got to the hotel at 2 am and was very hungry and wasn't even interested in going through my phone. I'd rather just be real and not care about social media, I just wanted to sleep but Victor (Osimhen) came in and told me about what was going on on social media, I assured him I was good and just wanted to sleep.
“Personally, I just don't like social media, it had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. I do not like cameras.”
What's next for Super Eagles star Iwobi?
Iwobi said he hopes to continue with project 17 and would love to see more people come on board to talk, he is also looking to release some songs soonest but is not sure of doing a musical video.
“I will keep doing my fashion because I love it, I want to achieve a whole lot more with football, go to another AFCON, and win it this time around. I want to qualify for another World Cup and just see my football career progress nicely,” he remarked.
Iwobi is currently in the Super Eagles squad in Marrakech, Morocco under the tutelage of Coach Finidi George and is expected to play a role in the friendlies lined up against Ghana and Mali on March 22 and March 26 respectively.
