Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi has reflected on his journey with the Super Eagles and the vibrant football culture in Nigeria.
Born in England, Iwobi began his football journey representing England at the youth level. However, in 2015, he made the pivotal decision to represent Nigeria at the senior level. He made his senior debut for the Super Eagles on October 8, coming on as a substitute for Ahmed Musa in the 57th minute of a 2–0 friendly defeat against DR Congo in Visé, Belgium.
Since his debut, the 28-year-old has made 82 appearances for the three-time AFCON champions, scoring 10 goals. He was also a key member of the Super Eagles squad that finished as runners-up in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024).
Despite a bittersweet finish in the AFCON final, he believes that success on the pitch can draw more players back to their roots.
Iwobi's vision for Nigerian football
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Iwobi recognised the immense talent within Nigeria and believes that continued success can attract players from around the globe to reconnect with their roots.
He said, “Yeah, of course, especially with the sort of talent we have in Nigeria now.
“Unfortunately, we lost in the final (AFCON), but if we keep on progressing and win competitions, it’ll attract players not just living in England, but also in Spain and Germany to try and play from where they’re actually from.
“For me, I grew up in the Nigerian culture, so when I just tried it out and saw what I was like, there was no turning back for me. Plus, they’ve seen me and Calvin (Bassey) do it, why not do it as well?”
