Alex Iwobi: 3 things Eguavoen can learn from Fulham’s Silva to get the best out of Super Eagles star

Alex Iwobi, a key player for the Super Eagles, has faced criticism for not performing well for the national team. However, this isn’t the full story. At Fulham, under coach Marco Silva, Iwobi has thrived, showing his creativity and versatility. But his performances for Nigeria have not been as impressive, leaving fans and experts wondering what is missing.

The answer might lie in how Iwobi is used. Silva has created a system at Fulham that allows him to shine, and Nigeria’s interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, could learn a lot from this.

1. Fix the squad’s stability

Iwobi’s struggles with the Super Eagles partly come from the lack of stability in the midfield. He often has different midfield partners and roles, making it hard for him to settle and perform at his best. To help Iwobi, the Super Eagles need a stable midfield where he can find his rhythm.

Iwobi has shown that when he is in a stable team setup, he can deliver great performances. Eguavoen should work on making the midfield more balanced to get the best out of him.

2. Give Iwobi more freedom

Another issue Iwobi faces with Nigeria is being too restricted in his movement, especially in certain roles. Sometimes, he plays too close to the attack, which limits his ability to drop deeper and create chances. In other roles, he is expected to defend too much or do jobs that don’t suit his strengths.

At Fulham, Iwobi has the freedom to move around the pitch. He can press high or drop back to help with playmaking. This flexibility is key to his success, and the Super Eagles should let him roam more freely to bring out his best.

3. Iwobi can excel as a wide midfielder

While many prefer Iwobi to play in the middle, he has also shown he can succeed as a wide midfielder. Even though some may think he lacks the speed for this role, his ability to link up play from wide positions can be valuable.

By playing as a wide midfielder, Iwobi can move inside to avoid being closely marked and create space for teammates. This role would also allow other players, like Ola Aina, to exploit space created by Iwobi’s movement.

If Eguavoen can make these adjustments, Iwobi could deliver better performances for the Super Eagles, similar to what he has shown at Fulham.