Iwobi’s Journey: Embracing Nigeria Over England – An Insider’s Story

Alex Iwobi has expressed how he decided to represent the Super Eagles.

On the Beast Mode On podcast, Iwobi recounted how former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger advised him to carefully contemplate his options, suggesting he might wait before joining England’s senior squad.

Though Iwobi participated in multiple youth teams for England, his progress was hindered due to limited opportunities with Arsenal’s first team.

Nonetheless, his trajectory shifted when Nigeria invited him to be part of their Olympic team. After discussions with his family, Iwobi opted to pursue the opportunity.

He remarked, “I began representing Nigeria at the age of 19. I had played for the England Under-16, Under-17, and Under-18 squads, but my chances dwindled as I wasn’t receiving consistent first-team play at Arsenal, which was challenging.

“All the players on the England U21 team were generally enjoying regular first-team football in the Championship or League One, starting matches and enhancing their reputations. That certainly wasn’t my situation back then.

“Then I started getting appearances for Arsenal. At that point, Gareth Southgate was managing the U21 squad. The Arsenal first-team coach communicated with him, saying, ‘We’re contemplating elevating you to the first team, but we want you to play for the U21s first.’

“At that juncture, Nigeria reached out, expressing their desire for me to participate in the Olympics. I spoke with my father and uncle, and they suggested I should at least give Nigeria a chance. If the training or facilities didn’t suit me, I could at least say I made an effort.”

The former Everton midfielder shared his initial experiences with the Nigerian squad, noting that the environment was modest, but he felt a profound sense of belonging.

“I then arrived in Nigeria… you have to launder your own kit. The pitch was partly grass, and the AstroTurf was situated outside the play area, seemingly just installed. The coach, if you make one inaccurate pass, would question, ‘What’s wrong with you now?’ I recall one player sending the ball off the pitch, and they made him run two laps. I thought, ‘This is crazy.’

“I was enjoying myself. The food was unmistakably jollof rice; we had yam and eggs for breakfast. I genuinely felt at home. I hadn’t even built a reputation at Arsenal yet, but they were already aware of me. I was recognized at the airport and celebrated. The passion for the sport was palpable.”

The pivotal moment came when he was summoned for a match against Egypt.
According to Iwobi, Wenger allowed him to make the final choice.

“I was still in the process of securing the FIFA clearance. I couldn’t participate in the knockout matches to earn a spot in the Olympics, but I still went to observe and be a part of the team. The traveling fans brought instruments and created significant noise. I felt a strong sense of belonging—this is where I’m supposed to be,” he shared.

“Eventually, I was called upon for Nigeria’s senior team, so they invited me to compete against Egypt. Wenger asked, ‘What do you want to do? You can postpone your decision to think over England, or you can go and represent Nigeria.’

“Given my past experiences, I was eager to represent Nigeria. He (Wenger) expressed his support and wished me the best.

“I appreciate playing for England because the team has a stringent system, maintains discipline, and includes some of the best players worldwide. Yet, Nigeria offers a sense of enjoyment. You never quite know how things will unfold.”

Iwobi made his debut for the Super Eagles in October 2015, during a friendly match against the DR Congo national team in Visé, Belgium.

Since then, he has evolved into a crucial player for Nigeria, featuring in 98 matches and netting 10 goals.