Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi has issued a stark rallying cry to his Nigeria teammates ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that trophies not talent, are what defines a generation’s legacy.
The Super Eagles kick off their 2025 campaign in Morocco under pressure to deliver, having last lifted the trophy in 2013. Despite boasting a squad brimming with elite European experience, this group has yet to win major honours, with their runner up finish in Ivory Coast last time out merely sharpening the hunger.
“People get remembered for their accolades,” Iwobi told media, channeling the winning mentality he developed during his upbringing at Arsenal. The Fulham playmaker, set to anchor the midfield alongside Wilfred Ndidi, believes the time for excuses is over. “We’re more hungry than ever. We know what it takes, and we’re prepared to put in the work to finally bring it home.”
Nigeria’s recent history adds weight to his words. Failure to qualify for the last two World Cups has bruised the nation’s pride, while the AFCON title has remained agonisingly out of reach for over a decade. Manager Eric Chelle will lean heavily on Iwobi’s creativity and big game experience to ignite a charge for a historic fourth continental crown.
The draw in Morocco offers no hiding place, and with the likes of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze ahead of him, Iwobi knows the creative onus is shared. But his message is clear: individual stars fade, but winning teams are immortalised. For this Super Eagles generation, 2025 is not just another tournament. it’s the last chance to carve their legacy in gold.
