Nigerian Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has revealed what the Egyptian Goalkeeper Told him before he took his penalty
Nigeria secured third place at the tournament after defeating the Pharaohs 4–2 on penalties, following a tense 0–0 draw at the end of regulation time.
Iwobi was one of the Nigerian players who successfully converted his penalty in the shoot-out, helping the Super Eagles seal victory over their long-time continental rivals.
Alex Iwobi speaks on his exchange with the Egyptian Goalkeeper.
Speaking after the game, the Fulham midfielder revealed that an unexpected exchange took place between himself and Egypt goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir moments before he stepped up to take his kick.
According to Iwobi, the Egyptian shot-stopper walked up to him and attempted some last-minute mind games, a common tactic during high-pressure penalty situations. Rather than being unsettled, the Nigerian international appeared relaxed and even amused by the interaction.
Recalling the moment, Iwobi explained that Shobeir confidently claimed he already knew where the ball was going to be placed.
“He came to me and said, ‘Iwobi, I know where you are going to go,’” the midfielder said.
The goalkeeper reportedly added an extra challenge to his prediction, telling Iwobi that if he managed to save the penalty, the Nigerian would have to hand over his match jersey as a prize.
“And he said, ‘If I save your penalty, you are going to give me your shirt,’” Iwobi revealed with a smile.
The Super Eagles midfielder responded calmly, agreeing to the challenge without hesitation. “I told him, ‘No problem,’” Iwobi said.
Moments later, Iwobi stepped up and confidently dispatched his penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and keeping Nigeria firmly on course for victory.
The successful kick drew cheers from Nigerian fans and underlined the composure shown by the Super Eagles throughout the shoot-out.
Iwobi later recounted the exchange during a conversation with teammate Ademola Lookman, who was curious about what had been said between the two players. The story quickly amused fans, highlighting the psychological battles that often unfold during decisive moments in football.
Nigeria ultimately converted four of their penalties to Egypt’s two, sealing a deserved third-place finish at the tournament. The victory provided some consolation for the Super Eagles after narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
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