Alex Iwobi says he and his Super Eagles teammates are putting in intense work ahead of their Group C opener against Tanzania at AFCON 2025, hopeful that their preparation will pay dividends on match day.
On Monday, the Nigerian squad continued training despite light rain, with players and coaching staff focused on refining tactics and building cohesion ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
Speaking to journalists before the session, Iwobi reflected on Nigeria’s recent friendly defeat to Egypt, emphasising the positives drawn from the experience rather than dwelling on the loss.
“We lost a preparation game, but we took some positives: a lot of new faces and a lot of people adapting to the system and adapting to the way the manager wants us to play,” he said. “We are still preparing, we are working hard, and we have the full team now together. Hopefully the preparation will go well, and we will get the results.”
The Super Eagles are set to go into the match as clear favourites, having recorded five wins and three draws in their previous encounters with Tanzania.
Nigeria’s only prior AFCON meeting with the East African side came during the opening match of the 1980 tournament, hosted in Nigeria, which ended in a 3–1 victory for the home team.
As the squad looks to start the tournament on a strong note, the focus remains on teamwork, discipline, and the implementation of coach Eric Chelle’s game plan, with Iwobi optimistic that the hard work on the training ground will translate into a successful campaign.
