He has graced some of the world’s biggest stages in the Premier League, yet for Alex Iwobi, the Africa Cup of Nations stands apart as a uniquely “special” experience.
As 24 teams prepare to battle for the continental crown over the coming weeks, the Fulham midfielder will represent Nigeria—a nation still feeling the sting of a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in the 2023 final and now hungry to reclaim the title.
But for Iwobi, Afcon transcends pure competition.
“With Afcon, you get to celebrate Africa through football,” he tells BBC Newsbeat.
“You see different cultures, how different people dress, how we from Nigeria walk into the changing rooms.
When other countries arrive, we play music—so we’re celebrating our music, too. It’s about more than the game.”
By James Kisoo
