Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has expressed reservations about the relevance of the third-place playoff game at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite his team’s victory over Egypt in the matchup, Iwobi remains skeptical about the significance of the contest.
At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Iwobi was a key player for the Super Eagles, participating in every match except for the game against Uganda. He provided two assists throughout the tournament and played a crucial role in setting up several goals. In the third-place playoff game against Egypt, Iwobi came on as a substitute and scored the decisive penalty in the shootout, securing Nigeria’s win.
The match was a challenging mental test for the Nigerian players, who were still reeling from their semifinal loss to Morocco. Iwobi acknowledged the difficulty of shaking off the disappointment, stating, “We wanted to win gold but ended up finishing third. The match was tough mentally because I don’t think a player can completely forget the pain of losing in the semi-finals.” He also emphasized his disagreement with the concept of a third-place game.
Iwobi praised the Egyptian team, particularly their Premier League strikers Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, whose penalty kicks were saved by Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali. The Super Eagles had prepared for the match by studying videos of the Egyptian team, and Iwobi appreciated the opportunity to play in Morocco, describing the country as “beautiful” with “nice stadiums and nice hotels.”
The win marked a positive ending to the tournament for Nigeria, which had earlier faced disappointment in failing to qualify for the World Cup. Iwobi’s performance throughout the Africa Cup of Nations highlighted his skills and dedication to the team. As the Super Eagles look to the future, their experience in Morocco will likely serve as a valuable learning opportunity. With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations now concluded, attention will turn to upcoming international competitions and the potential for Nigeria to build on their recent success.
