Afcon is a particular soccer match

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Naomi Clarke, BBC Newsbeat

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/31d5/live/b43ea590-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images Alex Iwobi is on a football pitch. He wears a green patterned football jersey and has black dreadlocks." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures The Fulham midfielder will characterize his residence nation Nigeria within the competitors

He is performed on among the greatest phases on the planet within the Premier League, however Alex Iwobi believes the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is a "particular" expertise.

The match will see 24 groups battling for the continental crown throughout the subsequent couple of weeks.

Fulham midfielder Iwobi will characterize his residence nation of Nigeria within the competitors, the place they are going to be hoping to clinch the title after lacking out in a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in 2023's last.

"With Afcon, you get to rejoice Africa by means of soccer," he tells BBC Newsbeat.

"You get to see totally different cultures, you get to see how totally different individuals costume, how individuals from Nigeria, the way in which we stroll into the altering rooms.

"When among the different nations stroll into the altering rooms, we play music, so we're celebrating our music by means of that as nicely."

Nigeria will likely be hoping to redeem themselves after failing to qualify for a second successive World Cup.

Iwobi says it was a "massive disappointment", however the staff will likely be utilizing it to gas them within the Afcon match.

"We owe it to ourselves to make it proper, and there is no higher means from the final Afcon to enhance (than) simply to win this one," the 29-year-old says.

Afcon is usually held each two years and this time Morocco is internet hosting.

Nigeria have gained the competitors 3 times over time, the final being again in 2013.

Their most up-to-date loss to Ivory Coast continues to be outstanding in Iwobi's thoughts as he says it "shattered" their desires.

Nevertheless, he feels the second was "written" for striker Sébastien Haller, who scored the successful purpose after overcoming testicular most cancers.

"It was a tricky loss, however you give credit score when credit score due, they deserved it," Iwobi says.

"However it's additionally fuelled us and we have been working onerous to get into the Afcon once more and, hopefully, that is our story."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/087f/live/ca70de00-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Alex Iwobi kicks a football on a pitch. He wears a green patterned football jersey and has black dreadlocks. He is playing against Serge Aurier of Ivory Coast, who wears a bright orange football jersey. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures Alex Iwobi made his debut for Nigeria's nationwide staff in 2015

The Fulham midfielder was born in Lagos, however moved to London as a baby. His expertise was noticed early and he was chosen to characterize England as much as under-18 stage.

After a few years with the Three Lions, he made his debut for Nigeria's nationwide staff in 2015 as he says he felt extra "at residence" with the staff.

"England handled me with a number of respect and so they liked me," he says. "However on the similar time, I felt extra of a reference to my roots in Nigeria."

He has since made 91 appearances, making him the fourth most capped participant for the Nigerian Tremendous Eagles.

Iwobi says he by no means thought he would play for Arsenal, Fulham, or Nigeria rising up, however he's "honoured and grateful" for his achievements.

Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Iwobi's faculty pal Ola Aina are additionally among the many gamers on the Nigerian nationwide staff who weren't raised within the nation.

They've been affectionately nicknamed the "innit boys", and Iwobi hopes they've helped open the door for others to characterize their residence nation.

"You are Nigerian on the finish of the day and you're going to get liked regardless," he says.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a3fc/live/d93c1940-dcf8-11f0-b936-bbd75bfb2f25.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Alex Iwobi kicks a football on a pitch. He wears a black Fulham jersey and has black dreadlocks. He is playing against Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro, who wears a white jersey. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures Iwobi says he by no means thought we might play for Arsenal, Fulham, or Nigeria in his profession

There was debate over whether or not Afcon will get the respect it deserves.

Earlier this yr, Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher precipitated a stir when he recommended Afcon was not thought of a "main match", when discussing Mohamed Salah's possibilities of successful the coveted Ballon d'Or.

Iwobi feels there's nonetheless extra work to be performed.

"It is clearly getting recognised much more," he says. "There's a number of nice abilities, nice nations representing.

"Within the Premier League there's a number of gamers in every staff which might be going to be represented so the notice is rising, nevertheless it undoubtedly deserves much more respect, for my part."

If he wins the match, the Fulham participant says he will likely be on the telephone to his dad and mom and sister immediately, whereas his prolonged household will likely be dancing.

"I've heard from earlier folks that once they win it, it is like every little thing simply stops, you develop into like a king, you are simply royalty," he says.

"Simply going to the ultimate we bought handled like royalty anyway, so I am unable to think about successful it.

"It could simply be loopy, however I wish to expertise that."

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