In the aftermath of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi refused to attribute the outcome to injuries and withdrawals from the team.

Head coach, Jose Peseiro was compelled to make three changes to the squad just before the tournament commenced in Cote d’Ivoire due to injuries.

Wilfred Ndidi’s void was filled by Alhassan Yusuf, Victor Boniface was replaced by Terem Moffi, and Paul Onuachu joined the squad as a substitute for the injured Sadiq Umar.

Speaking on the impact of these changes, Iwobi maintained a positive stance, asserting, “Not at all, because for Nigeria, we have a lot of players who can play, but of course, we are disappointed losing some players to injury, but as a nation, we have a lot of players, so that shouldn’t affect us.”

Despite the frustrating 1-1 result against Equatorial Guinea, Iwobi described it as “one of those days,” acknowledging the missed chances.

He revealed that Coach Peseiro encouraged the team to intensify their efforts during halftime, but despite an improved performance, the elusive winning goal remained out of reach.

With two more fixtures on the horizon, the Iwobi believes the Super Eagles have ample opportunities to find their rhythm, secure victories, and advance to the knockout stages and beyond.