Iwobi reveals penalty mind games with Egyptian goalkeeper at AFCON 2025

Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed the details of a brief but memorable exchange he had with Egypt goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir during the third-place play-off penalty shootout at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. Nigeria and Egypt were locked in a tense battle that ended goalless after 90 minutes, forcing the bronze-medal […]

Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed the details of a brief but memorable exchange he had with Egypt goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir during the third-place play-off penalty shootout at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Nigeria and Egypt were locked in a tense battle that ended goalless after 90 minutes, forcing the bronze-medal encounter into a penalty shootout. The Super Eagles eventually prevailed 4–2, securing their ninth AFCON third-place finish. Egypt goalkeeper Shobeir set the tone early by saving Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s opening kick, but Nigeria responded strongly through Akor Adams, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman, whose successful efforts sealed victory.

When Iwobi stepped up to take his penalty with Nigeria leading 2–1, Shobeir attempted to play mind games. The Al Ahly shot-stopper, son of Egyptian goalkeeping legend Ahmed Shobair, engaged the Fulham midfielder in a brief conversation that Iwobi later recounted in his AFCON Diaries vlog.

Asked by Lookman about the exchange, Iwobi said, “He said to me, ‘Iwobi, I know where you are going to go. If I save your penalty, you give me your shirt.’ I said, ‘No problem, I’ll give you my shirt, bro.’ Then he said, ‘OK, let’s go.’ I just laughed.”

Iwobi calmly converted his kick, underlining his importance to Nigeria’s campaign. The former Arsenal star topped tournament statistics for passes leading to shots (13) and goals (4), while also delivering two assists. He led AFCON 2025 with 46 line-breaking passes, including 36 in the knockout stages, and recorded over 60 line-breaking passes across six matches.

Despite Nigeria’s semi-final penalty shootout defeat to hosts Morocco, Iwobi remained influential, scoring in the third-place match against Egypt.

In the same AFCON Diaries series, the 29-year-old also sent words of encouragement to Morocco and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz, while congratulating Senegal on their success, rounding off an impressive personal showing at the continental tournament.

“Shout out to Brahim Diaz as well, of course, he’ll be going through a lot right now.

“I mean, to take the penalty the way he did, if he scored, he would’ve been a hero, it’s just the fact that he didn’t. Please, allow him, it’s football, but my message to him is what’s done is done. He’s had a good tournament. Do your thing in your club

“Obviously, it’s hard to forget these moments; there’s always another opportunity,” Alex Iwobi concluded.