Everton: Alex Iwobi ‘quietly sensational’ despite Nigeria defeat to Algeria
Alex Iwobi has stunned everybody this season as he has reimagined himself as a central midfielder for Everton and now Nigeria too.
The 26-year-old has held his place in Frank Lampard’s squad despite the arrivals of Amadou Onana, Idrisaa Gana Gueye and James Garner and remains one of the Toffees’ top performers this season.
He now finds himself in a similar role for Nigeria and was arguably the star of the show without making a big song and dance about it as the Super Eagles were beaten 2-1 by Algeria on Tuesday (27 September).
ESPN journalist Colin Udoh branded the Evertonian as “quietly sensational” at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex in Oran, Algeria as he set up the game’s opening goal, scored by Terem Moffi.
Iwobi parted the seas with a precise through ball less than 10 minutes into the friendly game but his side were unable to hang on with goalkeeping errors harming Nigeria.
Magician
If someone had suggested one year ago that Iwobi would be the star of the show at Goodison Park, while in central midfield, they would have been laughed out of Merseyside.
But it’s happened. He really is performing at levels way beyond anything he has managed before, even if the goals and assists columns don’t show that.
It is also very encouraging to see his national team catch wind of this and keep him in the middle rather than resorting to him as a winger where he began his career while at Arsenal.
The balance of the Everton midfield is now as perfect as it can be with Iwobi the creative magician, playing some delightful passes and crosses while Gueye holds down the fort in front of the back four and Onana does the leg work from end to end.
He won’t take the Toffees all the way to European football anytime soon but while he has his chance to shine, he is grabbing it with both hands.