There are matches you win with noise, and there are matches you win with control. Nigeria’s commanding outing against Algeria belonged firmly to the latter category, and at the very heart of that control stood Alex Iwobi.
The Super Eagles victory over the North African giants’ side was not a game of chaos or chance. It was a carefully written football manuscript, and the pen was obviously held in the hand of Alex Iwobi.
From kickoff in Marrakech, the Super Eagles played with an assurance that suggested a team fully aware of its identity, somewhat reminding Nigerians of our 1994 squad. Algeria arrived with their familiar North African discipline and psychological edge, but it didn’t take long before they realized they were not facing a reactive side. Nigeria dictated tempo, transitions, and territory. 
At the centre of the Super Eagles dominance was the calm, intelligent, and authoritative midfield maestro, Alex Iwobi. Iwobi didn’t chase the game; he controlled it. He wasn’t flashy for the sake of applause, nor anonymous in safety. Instead, he operated in that rare space where intelligence meets influence. Every Nigerian phase of play seemed to pass through him, not because he demanded the ball, but because the game demanded his understanding.
The Jay-Jay Spirit could be said to have been reimagined in Alex. This is not the Alex Iwobi of raw promise or inherited expectation. This is a refined midfield general who is decisive in possession, economical in movement, and fearless in responsibility. His vision opened channels. His weight of pass released pressure. His composure allowed Nigeria to play forward without panic.
Honestly, if football had a metronome, Iwobi was it. He connected defence to attack seamlessly, turning simple possession into purposeful progression. While others pressed, tackled, and finished, Iwobi ensured the Super Eagles never lost their shape or rhythm. That is elite midfield play, not the loudest on the pitch, but the most influential.
Great teams are built around players who understand when to accelerate and when to pause. Against Algeria, Iwobi mastered both. Nigeria didn’t overwhelm with reckless speed; they suffocated with structure. That balance came from midfield intelligence, and that supply came in abundance through Iwobi.
This performance signalled something important. Nigeria is no longer reliant on moments alone; there is now a brain at the centre of the body, like we used to have in Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha. Victor Osimhen might have won the man of the match against Algeria, what we missed in African legend, Okocha, has resurfaced in Alex “Jay Jay” Iwobi, the man of the match of all Nigerian supporters, home and abroad.
When Alex Iwobi plays like this, it shows Nigeria is not just talented but is dangerously organized. Teams can plan for pace, strength, and pressing. What they struggle to plan for is a midfielder who sees the game two steps ahead and executes with humility.
This was a reminder that leadership doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it passes, positions, and protects.
As the Super Eagles march forward, one truth is clear: Alex Iwobi is no longer a supporting act, he is the system, and we hope to see him hotter against the host country during the semi-finals.
When Nigeria’s midfield thinks clearly, Africa listens. Congratulations Alex Iwobi, congratulations Super Eagles, congratulations Nigerians.
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