Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that Jean-Michael Seri was his toughest opponent during Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON final defeat, admitting the Ivorian midfielder dominated the game and left him frustrated.
Speaking while reflecting on past AFCON experiences ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Iwobi said the final against Ivory Coast remains one of the most difficult matches of his international career.
“Jean-Michael Seri controlled the game. I couldn’t get close to him,” Iwobi admitted.
The Fulham midfielder explained that Seri’s composure, positioning and ball control made it extremely hard for Nigeria to dictate play in midfield.
“He was always in the right position, keeping the ball moving and slowing the game down when they needed it,” he said.
Iwobi noted that his own style of play revolves around controlling possession and dictating tempo, which made the matchup particularly challenging.
“I like to get on the ball and control the game, but he didn’t allow that. It was frustrating,” he added.
The Nigerian international said the experience has stayed with him and now serves as motivation as he prepares for another AFCON campaign.
“Those kinds of games teach you a lot. You learn what it takes to win at that level,” Iwobi said.
Looking ahead to Morocco, the midfielder stressed that Nigeria must be more dominant in midfield if they hope to go all the way this time.
“At AFCON, midfield battles decide games. If you don’t control that area, you suffer,” he noted.
Iwobi also highlighted the importance of learning from past defeats rather than dwelling on them.
“You can’t change the past, but you can use it to prepare better for the future,” he explained.
The former Arsenal man expressed confidence that the Super Eagles have grown from that experience and are better prepared for the upcoming tournament.
“We have the quality and experience now. We just have to apply it the right way,” he said.
As Nigeria heads into AFCON 2025 determined to go one step further, Iwobi’s reflection underlines how fine margins, especially in midfield, can shape the outcome of the biggest games on the African stage.
