Super Eagles: Premier League great demands more from Iwobi, Chukwueze despite Osimhen Tanzania flop

The Super Eagles‘ opening win at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) came with talking points beyond the scoreline, and one man who watched it with a striker’s eye was Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

The former Nigeria forward weighed in on Victor Osimhen’s display and the rhythm of Nigeria’s midfield, stressing that the Galatasaray man did much of the hard work but lacked the final break of luck in front of goal.

The Super Eagles created plenty in Fez, building their attacks through wide movement and quick combinations around the box. Alex Iwobi dictated pockets of play, drifting between lines and linking seamlessly with Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman. That platform meant chances kept falling to Osimhen, even if the finishing touch never quite arrived on the night.

Ayegbeni pointed to the volume of those opportunities as proof that the framework around the striker is functioning, even while insisting that Nigeria cannot stop refining the creative core if they hope to go deep at AFCON 2025. 

Yakubu backs wasteful Osimhen but calls for added Super Eagles guile

“You have Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi… they try to create chances and they create some chances for Osimhen. He was just unlucky today,” Aiyegbeni told journalist Toyosi Afolayan after the Tanzania game. “But we still need creative midfield, but the midfield today with Chukwueze, I think he did very well.”

Super Eagles legend, Yakubu Ayegbeni breaks down Victor Osimhen’s display against Tanzania and shares thoughts on the midfield’s showing.#AFCON2025 #TTAxTheBoomShow #SuperEagles pic.twitter.com/b40mhpp04F

— The 𝘛ó𝘺ò𝘴í 𝘈𝘧𝘰𝘭á𝘺𝘢𝘯™️ (@Toyosi4layan) December 23, 2025

Iwobi’s influence backed that verdict. The midfielder stitched phases together, drove Nigeria forward in transition, and finished with two assists, underlining how central he has become to the team’s flow.

While Osimhen chased relentlessly, pressed defenders, and occupied the back line, the former Everton man acted as the connector that kept Nigeria’s attacks breathing.

The three time AFCON winners now sits second in group c after the opening day, and attention quickly turns to the next match against Tunisia on December 27 in Fez.