Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has credited unity, maturity, and strong leadership for Nigeria’s impressive run to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, as the three-time champions prepare for a high-pressure showdown against hosts Morocco in Rabat.
Nigeria face the Atlas Lions on Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, aiming to secure a place in the AFCON final after producing one of their most convincing tournament performances in recent years.
Speaking at a press conference in the Moroccan capital, Iwobi highlighted the impact of head coach Éric Chelle, saying the Franco-Malian tactician has built a close-knit squad capable of thriving under pressure.
“The biggest difference in this team is the unity,” the Fulham star said. “There is a strong sense of brotherhood and family among us. That environment allows every player to give their best for the country, both on and off the pitch.”
The 29-year-old, who has featured in Nigeria’s previous AFCON campaigns including the 2019 semi-final run and the 2023 final appearance in Côte d’Ivoire, believes the current squad is benefiting from experience and peak performance levels.
“Many of us are now in our prime and doing well at our clubs,” Iwobi explained. “You can see the chemistry, the joy, and the belief whenever we step onto the pitch wearing Nigeria’s colours.”
Nigeria arrive at the semi-final as the tournament’s highest-scoring side, with 14 goals so far. Star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have been instrumental in that run, contributing seven goals between them and consistently troubling opposition defences.
The Super Eagles’ AFCON resurgence follows the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in Rabat last November. According to Iwobi, that setback has only strengthened the team’s resolve.
“We wanted World Cup qualification badly, and losing it was painful,” he said. “But we’ve used that disappointment as motivation to push ourselves and achieve something special for Nigeria.”
Head coach Éric Chelle admitted that managing a squad blessed with top-level attackers makes his job easier, but insisted that the team’s collective strength remains its biggest asset.
“We have quality across the squad,” Chelle said. “Even when one player is unavailable, another is ready to step in and deliver.”
Nigeria will, however, be without captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended for the semi-final encounter. Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika is expected to deputise in the heart of midfield.
Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked nation, will rely on home support from a near-capacity crowd as they chase their first AFCON title in nearly five decades. Head coach Walid Regragui, who guided the Atlas Lions to a historic World Cup semi-final in 2022, acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead.
“At this stage of the competition, concentration and mental strength are everything,” Regragui said. “Nigeria are a very strong team, and we must be ready to match their intensity for the entire match.”
With a place in the final at stake, Nigeria’s unity-driven Super Eagles and Morocco’s home-backed Atlas Lions are set for a thrilling AFCON semi-final that promises intensity, quality, and continental drama.
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