Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi has praised head coach Eric Chelle for fostering a strong sense of unity within the Super Eagles, a factor he believes has powered their run to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Afrosport reports.
The 29-year-old spoke on Tuesday, just two months after Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes ended in heartbreak, and on the eve of their semi-final showdown against hosts Morocco in Rabat.
Nigeria have impressed throughout the tournament, producing a string of confident performances to reach the last four. The three-time African champions have scored the most goals at the tournament in Morocco, having put the ball at the back of the net 14 times so far.
Down to the last 4!
Who makes it to the final? 🤔#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 #AFCONOnAfrosport pic.twitter.com/P95KCbZ4J1— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) January 12, 2026
The Super Eagles were finalists at the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast two years ago, where they lost to the hosts, while Iwobi was also part of the squad that reached the semi-finals in 2019.
Despite off-field challenges, including reports of disagreements with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over bonuses, Iwobi insists the atmosphere within the camp has never been better and is bringing out the best in the squad.
“I feel like the difference is the sense of brotherhood, the family environment that we have created for each other,” Iwobi told reporters in Rabat. “Of course at previous AFCONs we have done really well. The team was so strong but at the same time we were young and we were learning about each other.
“I feel like right now everybody is entering their prime, everyone is doing well for their clubs and you can see the joy and the chemistry we have when playing for our country.”
He added: “It is not just on the pitch, also off the pitch there is a big unity, we are a big family. It starts from the coach — he has brought that brotherhood.”
Nigeria’s resurgence comes after a difficult World Cup qualifying campaign, which ended in disappointment following a penalty shoot-out defeat to DR Congo in Rabat last November.
That setback came despite an improvement in results after Chelle’s appointment as head coach on 7 January 2025.
“We have always given 100 percent,” Iwobi stated.
“In the World Cup qualifiers we wanted to win as well but it was a difficult moment for us, and we have used that disappointment as motivation to go and achieve something for our country, for ourselves, for our families.”
