Blow for Alex Iwobi and the Super Eagles. The Everton midfielder will evidently be absent during the upcoming clash between Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe in September for the qualifiers of the 2023 AFCON. The player is suffering from a muscle injury.
On September 10, 2023, Nigeria will host Sao Tome and Principe in their den. A match that counts for the sixth and final day of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. A match for which the coach, José Peseiro, will have to do without the services of Alex Iwobi. The midfielder has been unavailable for several weeks due to a hamstring injury, as confirmed by Everton’s coach, Sean Dyche.
An absence without major consequences A key element of the tactical setup, the absence of Alex Iwobi may not be as lamentable as it appears at first glance. This is mainly due to the fact that the match between Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe is widely considered a formality, even an amicable commitment.
This stems from the pre-acquired qualification of the Super Eagles obtained in the penultimate matchday. Therefore, José Peseiro might view his playmaker’s absence as an opportune moment to experiment with other players, or even introduce new talents into the mix.
An opportunity for Raphael Onyedika to shine Alex Iwobi’s injury could very well pave the way for Raphael Onyedika. An essential player at Club Brugge, the Nigerian midfield maestro has had a commendable performance in the early part of the season. This impressive form could potentially propel him into the national team, rekindling his presence after months of absence.
Since the start of the season, the former Midtjylland player has been on the field for 711 minutes out of 810 possible, with one assist in 9 matches. A total that surpasses almost all regular defensive midfielders of the national team this season.
