Chelsea loanee Kenneth Omeruo thinks Alex Iwobi has improved significantly in recent months, and that will help give Nigeria a ‘big chance’ in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Omeruo is technically still a Chelsea player, but he’s one of many who gets sent on countless loans without ever actually playing for his parent club. He’s yet to make an appearance for the Blues despite being 25 years old and this season joining his fifth career loan club, CD Leganes.

For Nigeria, Omeruo is a more consistent presence. The centre-back started two of his country’s three matches at the World Cup last summer, but he’s hoping Arsenal’s Iwobi can help them have a lot more success in 2019’s AFCON tournament than they had in Russia.

“Iwobi has improved a lot and he brings that into the national team as well,” Omeruo said. “He has good footwork, he moves well and he enjoys what he does. For him, it is fun to play football. He is a really good player but the exciting thing is there’s more to come.

“We have a big chance because we have got some quality players coming up. This set of boys, they are good, young and the coaches are good. Anything can happen now for us.”

After scoring the goal to send Nigeria to the World Cup, Iwobi only spent 64 minutes on the pitch at the actual tournament. However, his improved club form this season, as well as his impressive performances for Nigeria in recent qualifiers, should ensure he gets more chances next summer. Let’s hope he makes the most of them.