Fulham attacker Alex Iwobi has opened up about the confusion surrounding his role with the Nigerian national team during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, admitting that he missed the debate as he was off social media at the time.
Reflecting on his experience, Iwobi highlighted the challenges of playing in demanding conditions, emphasizing the physical toll it took on him and his teammates.
“Bro, it’s hot out there! Minimal air, bro! It’s not an excuse, but playing a game every four days in those conditions was tough,” Iwobi stated in an interview with fulhamfc.com.
He revealed that despite fans questioning his lack of creativity on the field, he was instructed to prioritize ball retention and defensive duties by the coaching staff.
“Everyone said ‘why is Alex not being creative?’ but I’ve been told to keep the ball, manage the ball. That’s the role I was told to do,” Iwobi explained.
Addressing the aftermath of the tournament, Iwobi expressed surprise at the speculation surrounding his performance and role within the team.
However, he remained unaware of the extent of the debate until later.
“I didn’t see it but when we had to get interviewed, I got asked where the creativeness that I had at Fulham was.
I was thinking ‘is there like a speculation or something?’ Then I found out later what was going on,” he recounted.
Despite the challenges and scrutiny, Iwobi reflected positively on Nigeria’s journey to the AFCON final, expressing disappointment at falling short against Ivory Coast but acknowledging the team’s efforts.
“We got to the Final and thought we could beat the host nation (Ivory Coast) again, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” Iwobi said, acknowledging the team’s resilience and determination throughout the tournament.
