IWOBI COMMENDS NIGERIAN UNITY AS TEAM GEARS UP FOR AFCON SEMI
Read Time:2 Minute, 57 Second
By: Balogun Ibrahim
Nigeria star Alex Iwobi on Tuesday praised coach Eric Chelle for fostering a strong team spirit that has propelled the Super Eagles to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, just two months after their hopes of World Cup qualification were dashed.
The Super Eagles face AFCON hosts Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday, aiming to maintain the prolific form that has carried them to the semi-finals.
Nigeria reached the final of the last Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast two years ago before losing to the hosts, and Iwobi was also part of the team that reached the 2019 semi-finals.
He said a more positive environment off the pitch despite earlier reports of disputes with the national football federation over bonuses has helped bring out the best in him and a team at its peak.
“I feel the difference is the sense of brotherhood, the family environment we have created for each other,” the 29-year-old Fulham star said during a packed press conference in the Moroccan capital.
“Of course, in previous AFCON tournaments, we performed well. The team was strong, but we were young and still learning about each other.
“Now, everyone is entering their prime and performing well at their clubs, and you can see the joy and chemistry we have when representing our country.
“The unity extends off the pitch as well, we are like a big family, and it starts with the coach, who has fostered that sense of brotherhood.”
READ MORE:
JAKANDE RESIDENTS STAGE PROTEST AGAINST DEMOLISH BY STATE GOVERNMENT
Nigeria struggled during their World Cup qualifying campaign, ultimately seeing their hopes of reaching the finals dashed after a play-off defeat on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat last November.
That came despite a significant improvement in form following the appointment of former Mali coach Eric Chelle a year ago.
“We have always given 100 percent,” Iwobi insisted.
“In the World Cup qualifiers, we aimed to win, but it was a challenging period for us. We have since used that disappointment as motivation to achieve something for our country, for ourselves, and for our families.”
Meanwhile, coach Eric Chelle acknowledged that having two recent African Player of the Year winners forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman has made his job easier.
Nigeria lead the tournament in scoring with 14 goals, including four from Osimhen and three from Lookman.
However, questions remain about how they will cope against Morocco without suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi in midfield, with Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika likely to step in.
“We are a team, and there are many quality players ready to seize their opportunity,” Chelle said.
Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked side, will look to exploit home advantage with a near-capacity crowd of almost 70,000 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Coach Walid Regragui, who guided the Atlas Lions to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, is fully aware of Nigeria’s quality.
“We will need to be mentally strong. At the AFCON semi-finals, you must raise your concentration, run more to prevent Nigeria from resting, and match their impact on the pitch,” Regragui warned.
Under immense pressure to deliver a home tournament victory, Regragui said criticism comes with the role.
“In my country, being Morocco’s coach means accepting that every result will attract critics. I focus on my team and fight for my country. What matters is what the players do on the pitch,” he added.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0