Nigeria assistant coach Joseph Yobo has described Alex Iwobi as a “game-changer” for the Super Eagles.
The Eagles will take on Egypt in their Group A opener in Garoua later today.
Iwobi is expected play a key role for the Eagles as they aim to win the tournament for a fourth time.
Also Read: AFCON 2021: Sudan’s Team General Manager Backs Egypt To Beat Super Eagles
And Yobo, 2013 AFCON winning captain, outlined influential role Iwobi will play for the Eagles.
“Alex is a big, big player for us in the national team,” Yobo told evertonfc.com.
“He trains hard every day – he is our game-changer. When things are hard, he can change things for us.
“He works his socks off and, technically, he is very good.
“He has the skill and the energy to run at players and track back, he can do all that. And he has an eye for goal.
“He is very important for Nigeria and I believe he can be for Everton, too.”
Yobo went on to highlight Iwobi’s adaptability as a key strength.
“If you need somebody to take on players and work back, Alex is better out wide,” Yobo explained.
“If you need somebody to do a bit of magic, without being predictable, then he can be a good option behind the striker. He does that very well for the national team.
“It depends on the formation and what you are trying to achieve, but he is very versatile.
“Alex is young but has played a lot of football and is experienced. He knows when to drop in and what do in different situations.
“I like him a lot. I am a big fan of Alex’s.”
21 Comments
I don’t understand…what is going on here?
I hope Musa is playing. Good luck Iwobi as you hopefully marshall our midfield in today’s match God bless SE Nigeria.
Musa is a Weak link, I hope he stays far away from this team.
You would have been better with good luck SE. When will you stop fooling yourself?
Yobo are you ok? Which Iwobi the same Iwobi we know or another Iwobi? Unless to confuse Eyptians.
Yeah the same Iwobi who has been massive for the super eagles!
For those always abusing Iwobi, I hope you have heard it now. So the clamour for Nwakali or Amok is now just thrash talk.
For those that blab on the pages of CSN, I hope you are learning.
The 3-5-2 That Gernot Rohr was using, that many people said here that it was not our style. That it doesn’t favour African football is the same formation teams like Cameroon and some other teams are using. The face of African football has changed, to be very cautious at the back while also attacking.
When you do not know how you are blessed in life, you will find yourself running helter skelter.
We are watching. Today na today.
@Ben… You are a very funny dude. Same Iwobi wey we the see since?
Nothing Yobo said is new knowledge, the world knows Iwobi can play foorball.
But evident from his club fortunes and what we have seen of him recently, Joseph Yobo is just talking his own. Iwobi is our “game changer” yet Mo Salah is making the whole nation of Nigeria quake.
Wetin Egypt go talk about Salah or Elneny? Make we just gentle the wait for the match… Some of us feel Iwobi has refused to apply himself properly to arrive at his nextlevel. Weak shots, misplaced and casual passes and lack of energy. That’s Iwobis issues… If he can up his turbo the world will acknowledge him befittingly…
But JimmyBall, you and your co-horts clamoured for the inclusion of Nwakali in this team as an option to Iwobi. Are you now saying that Yobo doesn’t know how to compare between Nwakali and Iwobi. Going by Yobo statement, it means my thoughts on Nwakali which was that he is not yet there is the same thing Yobo is saying.
Anyway today is the day that the chickens will come home to roost.
Let us just stay calm and watch the match .then at the end u will b able to give your analysis..thanks
Na number 4 role nwakali go play lass lass in the future. He’s not a quick feet, unless a lot about him change
Whoever the people who asked for the inclusion of Nwakali are, you have said they wanted an option for Iwobi. So what is the quarrel about? He remains an option. Is Nwakali complaining?
If an assistant coach says Iwobi is a game changer,it has nothing to do with Nwakali na. Does it stop him from being an option off the bench? I don’t understand your drift @Ben.
Today with all that was said of Iwobi he IS NOT STARTING because the final call is with the coach not assistant coach. Even so,it doesn’t mean what Yobo is saying is not correct. You see why I don’t get your point? It is good we have options on the bench. Simple
On those abusing Iwobi,I don’t do abusive,but I do truth. Iwobi underperformed in some matches, but it was really Rohr’s fault.
3-5-2 is not our style. We are not supposed to argue that AT ALL. Cameroon is not Nigeria, so leave them and their style.
African football generally lacks world class coaching that is why big teams in Africa seem to be playing it safe, because a small team can whip you silly because you as a big team don’t have the kind of coach that will truly bring out your quality.
There is a reason why Spain will employ an Enrique,Italy a Mancini,etc. Good coaching is essential if not big teams just keep struggling.
Thank you Yobo, you have prepared your wards and now lefy6 with 2hrs to go. God would see you guys through. Good luck Eagles!!!
Thank you Yobo, you have prepared your wards and now left with 2hrs to go. God shall see you guys through. Good luck Eagles!!!
Algeria is currently sweathing it out against sierra Leon of all teams. Hehehee… When we played them some months back, tongues were wagging all over the place as to why we didn’t bamboozle them. Some said rohr was a clueless coach and the eagles played without purpose and with no pattern. Now, the same team is giving the best team in Africa and current afcon champions ginger and garlic to chop. Hehehe…Cameroun needed 2 set pieces to save themselves from embarrassment against burkinafaso, Senegal needed the same set piece in the dying minutes to clinch 3 points against Zimbabwe of all teams. I wonder what would’ve happened if it were rohr who got all these results.??? The media wouldve been awash with all sorts of articles with many castigating the coach and his team but what this has shown us is that there are no minnows in football again whilst vindicating rohr in the long run. Even the nations thought to be small footballing nations and point givers have all wised up and are out to give big footballing nations a run for their money.
@oak please find something better to do And stop talking about ROHR or the past . Let’s reserve our energy for what’s coming. ROHR can not live Nigeria more than Nigerians . Even good coaches are fired let alone clueless coach.
Rohr…has done Nigeria wellllll… thank you Rohr…belmadi cannot beat sle..lol
See why GK is very important. The Keeper kept SL in the game. Let’s hope Okoye rises to the occasion bcos judging from previous matches any ball that passes our defence automatically results in a goal
Oh Mr Judge well done o.
@C I you can say that again!