FC Cincinnati v CF Montreal: Nwobodo return motivated by playoffs

FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo revealed that he was motivated by his desire to feature in the playoffs during his injury rehab.

The 28-year-old last played in June after he suffered a quadricep injury against CF Montreal, Cincinnati’s final opponent of the regular-season.

Cincinnati are currently second in the Eastern Conference, and can guarantee their spot in the top two if they can equal or better Inter Miami’s result against Nashville SC.

And after almost four months on the sidelines due to surgery, Nwobodo is eager to deliver for his team-mates and staff on the pitch.

“I am not someone that does something 50/50, I always give my all. So in anything I'm doing, in my rehab, in practice, everything, I'm giving it all,” said Nwobodo.

“And I believe that once I give my all, every other thing will come.

“The motivation and the belief come from that I know I'm working to be back before playoffs, and my team believes that I will be back, so I have to do everything I can to get there.

“For them to believe that I will come back is a big motivation for me, so even if I have a little doubt as a human being on myself…I have them who believe in me and I can use that to believe in me.

“Most importantly, it's not just to play one [game], it's about to play one and play the next, and hopefully play all the games and help the team. I feel I can do that now because of what we’ve done.”

Final regular season match.

Montreal can only finish as high as 12th in the East if they manage to get the better of Cincinnati after a disappointing 2025 campaign.

They have, however, ended the season strongly, losing only two of their last eight games after their Leagues Cup fixtures.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Cincinnati – Evander

Evander has impressed for Cincinnati this season, recording 17 goals and 14 assists in 2025.

He has also formed a strong partnership with Kevin Denkey. They have combined for 16 of Cincinnati's 24 regular-season goals at TQL Stadium in 2025, while at least one of them has scored in 12 of their 16 home games this season.

CF Montreal – Dante Sealy

Dante Sealy finished with three goal contributions (two goals, one assist) in Montreal’s last road match.

He is the first Montreal player this season to record three goal contributions in a single match, and the first to do so on the road since Romell Quioto in September 2021.