The 29-year-old will be part of Nigeria's squad as 24 teams battle for the continental crown over the coming weeks in Morocco. For Iwobi, Afcon is about more than just football.
"You get to celebrate Africa through football," he told BBC Newsbeat. "You see different cultures, the way people dress, the way we walk into changing rooms. When other countries enter, we play music, it's our music, our culture, coming through."
Nigeria will be aiming for redemption after missing out on the 2023 final against Ivory Coast and failing to qualify for a second successive World Cup. Iwobi says that disappointment has fueled the squad's motivation. "We owe it to ourselves to make it right, and there's no better way than winning this one," he says.
The AFCON heartbreak still lingers for Iwobi, who remembers Ivory Coast striker Sébastien Haller scoring the decisive goal after his battle with testicular cancer.
"It was a tough loss, but you give credit when credit's due," he reflects. "It also fueled us to work hard to get back here."
Iwobi was born in Lagos but raised in London, representing England at youth levels before making his debut for Nigeria in 2015. He now has 91 caps, making him the fourth most-capped player in Nigerian history. Alongside teammates like Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, and school friend Ola Aina, dubbed the "innit boys", he hopes to inspire others raised abroad to embrace their roots.
Despite criticism from some, including Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, who questioned AFCON's significance, Iwobi insists the tournament deserves greater respect, and says winning the tournament would be unforgettable for him.
"It's growing in recognition, but it deserves a lot more respect," he adds. "I'd call my parents and sister first. The celebrations with family would be incredible. Just going to the final we felt like royalty, I can't imagine what it would be like to win it."
Former Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has warned that reputations count for little at the Africa Cup of Nations, insisting African football remains a "different beast" where big names on the team sheet offer no guarantees.
Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has put his recent troubles at Liverpool behind him and is fully focused on winning the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, according to national coach Hossam Hassan.
Angola head coach Patrice Beaumelle insists his team is focused on creating new narratives at the Africa Cup of Nations, rather than dwelling on past results against Bafana Bafana.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes Morocco will emerge as the team to beat at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, which kicked off on Sunday in Marrakech.
