Iwobi eyes 2023 AFCON ticket

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi is hoping Nigeria picks the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations ticket with a game to spare when they play Sierra Leone in the penultimate game of the qualifiers in Liberia on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

With nine points from four matches, Nigeria are currently second in Group A of the qualifiers – a point behind Guinea-Bissau – but a win against the Leone Stars will secure a place at next year’s competition in Ivory Coast.

Sierra Leone on the other hand are third with five points and a win for them as well will open up the group until the last round of qualifying matches.

During the first leg of the encounter last year in Abuja, Sierra Leone took a surprise lead before Iwobi and Victor Osimhen scored to secure a 2-1 win for Nigeria.

Ahead of Sunday’s meeting, the Everton midfielder believes the Super Eagles can complete the double over their opponents.

“We have a job to do, all we can do is give 100 per cent, you see the quality we have in the team but Sierra Leone is not an easy team to play against. I’m sure if we give 100 per cent with the players we have, we will be able to get a good result,” Iwobi told our correspondent.

Iwobi featured at the AFCON for Nigeria in 2019 and 2021, winning a bronze medal in Egypt while his 2021 appearance in Cameroon was marred with a red card when he came on as a substitute in Nigeria’s round of 16 loss to Tunisia.

He reflected on the 2021 red card, saying it made him a better player.

“It played on my mind, but that’s football, you can’t dwell on your mistakes and I believe ever since then, it’s made me a better person and I’ve started playing regularly with my club and have been doing well. So, I haven’t looked back since,” Iwobi told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“It doesn’t bother me, I always give my 100 per cent as long as Nigeria get the result we need and we give the fans what they want, that’s the most important thing. My main concern is the team doing well.”

Since making his debut for Nigeria in 2015, Iwobi has racked up 63 appearances and 10 goals.