Alex Iwobi: Is the time finally right for Jay-Jay Okocha’s nephew to become Super Eagles conjurer-in-chief?

Alex Iwobi’s numbers in the Premier League this season quietly tell a story that shouldn’t be ignored. Fulham have leaned on him more than most realise, and his consistency has pushed him into the top bracket of creators in England. 

Twenty-three chances carved out already is no small feat, especially in a side that doesn’t dominate the ball every week. It places him among the league’s best in that department and the only Fulham player operating at that level.

Most chances created by midfielders in the Premier League this season:

◉ 40 – Bruno Fernandes
◉ 28 – Dominik Szoboszlai
◉ 27 – Declan Rice
◉ 25 – Elliot Anderson
◉ 23 – Alex Iwobi pic.twitter.com/mI3zw01plK

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) December 8, 2025

His improvement under Marco Silva has been steady rather than dramatic. Fulham give him the freedom to move into pockets where he can pick passes early, and he has repaid that trust. The numbers back it up; two goals, two assists, and a growing influence in Fulham’s attacking patterns. In that system, he works from the inside-right channel, closer to the forwards, and it suits him. He sees the pitch early, links play neatly, and rarely forces the game.

That version of Iwobi is rarely seen with the Super Eagles. Nigeria often place him deeper, where he must handle traffic instead of shaping the attack. It takes him away from the areas where he does his best work, and it shows.

The heavier defensive load explains why his national-team performances spark debate, even when his effort cannot be faulted.

Can Iwobi carry Super Eagles’ creative burden at AFCON 2025?

Nigeria’s challenge is simple, finding a role that allows him to influence the game higher up the pitch.

When he plays close to the forwards, he sees passes early and connects attacks naturally. When he starts from deep, his output drops and the team loses one of its few reliable creators.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) will not offer much margin for error. Midfields across the continent are more physical and quicker in transitions, and that environment has never suited him when he plays from a deeper position. His struggles in the galling 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff defeat to DR Congo last month remain a recent reminder of how easily he can be crowded out.

The Super Eagles need creativity between the lines, and Iwobi can provide it, but not from the wrong zone. His Premier League form shows what he brings when used properly. Whether Nigeria unlock that version is the question that will shape his impact in Morocco.