On December 23, 2025, the Premier League took to social media to celebrate Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi's stellar performance in Nigeria's 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Group C opener at Fez Stadium, Morocco.
The official Premier League account posted a captivating photo collage featuring the Super Eagles team lineup and a close-up of Iwobi in action, captioning it: "Alex Iwobi shines for Nigeria 🇳🇬 The @FulhamFC star assisted both goals as the Super Eagles beat Tanzania 2-1 in their first match of AFCON 2025! ✨" The post quickly garnered thousands of likes, reposts, and views, reflecting the global appeal of Iwobi's contributions.
Iwobi, wearing Nigeria's iconic green jersey with number 17, was instrumental in the hard-fought win. His precise crosses set up both goals for the three-time champions.
The first came in the 36th minute when his whipped delivery from a set-piece found defender Semi Ajayi, who headed home powerfully to break the deadlock. Tanzania equalized early in the second half through Charles M’Mombwa, stunning the Nigerian side and injecting drama into the match.
However, Iwobi's vision shone again shortly after, as he threaded a sublime pass to Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who slotted in the winner with a clinical finish. This brace of assists underscored Iwobi's creativity and composure under pressure, earning him widespread praise from fans and pundits alike.
Iwobi, a product of Arsenal's academy who later moved to Everton and now thrives at Fulham, has been a consistent performer in the English top flight.
In the 2024/2025 season, he has notched 7 goals and 3 assists in 27 appearances for Fulham, showcasing his versatility as a central midfielder. His international form adds to Nigeria's quest for a fourth AFCON title, following their runners-up finish in 2023.
This celebration comes amid Nigeria's challenging build-up, including missing the 2026 World Cup qualification. Under coach Éric Chelle, the Super Eagles showed resilience against a spirited Tanzania side making their fourth AFCON appearance. Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali's key saves and the defensive solidity of Calvin Bassey complemented Iwobi's midfield dominance.
As Group C progresses with matches against Tunisia and Uganda looming, Iwobi's form could be pivotal.
No comments:
Post a Comment