In the aftermath of Nigeria’s 1-0 triumph against Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal, Alex Iwobi has spoken out about a heated on-the-field exchange with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali during the second half.

The incident unfolded after the Palancas Negras nearly equalized through Zini, whose shot hit the post, prompting a passionate reaction from Nwabali directed at Iwobi, the most experienced player on the pitch.

Opinions among fans differ on whether Nwabali’s actions were disrespectful towards the seasoned and loyal Iwobi or if the Chippa United goalkeeper stayed within acceptable boundaries.

In response to the incident, Iwobi clarified that he harbors no ill feelings towards Nwabali. The Chippa United goalkeeper, who made a remarkable recovery to start against Angola after being stretchered off in the round of 16 clash with Cameroon, received praise from Iwobi.

“He’s a soldier; the fact that he was able to withstand that injury and fight for us today shows how much he loves us and wants to fight for the country,” Iwobi stated in an interview with Sportblog247.com. “I am happy, great team performance, and we are through to the semifinals, so we are one step closer to our dream.”

Some pundits speculate that Iwobi has become more cautious with his tackles in the ongoing tournament, possibly influenced by his red card in the 2021 AFCON shortly after entering a game as a substitute against Tunisia.

“I have no issues. If that’s how it looks like, then that’s how it looks; I’m just playing my game,” Iwobi added.

Iwobi boasts an impressive record, having participated in the last sixteen Africa Cup of Nations matches played by Nigeria, with eleven of them as a starter.