Alex Iwobi Reveals Harsh Reality Of Playing For Nigeria’s Super Eagles [Video]

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that Super Eagles players sometimes have to pay for their own flights when they are invited to play for Nigeria.

Alex Iwobi made the comments during an interview with Adebayo Akinfenwa on the “Beast Mode On” podcast, where he spoke about his first experience with the Nigerian national team.

The 30-year-old, who has represented Nigeria more than 100 times since making his debut in 2015, said he almost chose to play for England at senior level after featuring for the country’s youth teams.

However, the footballer said his father and uncle encouraged him to accept Nigeria’s invitation first.

According to him, joining the Super Eagles came with several challenges because players were expected to arrange and pay for their own flights, while hotel conditions were far from ideal.

Iwobi said he shared a room with two other players, experienced power outages at the hotel, and even had to wash his own training kit.

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He said, “I spoke to my dad and my uncle, and they said ‘at least give Nigeria a try, and if I don’t like it, then you can say you’ve given that a go’. I went to Nigeria. Obviously, you have to sort out your own flight. We were like three in my room. You get to the hotel, and there’s no electricity. You wash your own kit.

“The pitch is only half grass, half astroturf. If you make one bad pass, the coach is screaming at you.”

But I loved the food. I just felt like I was at home. I had not even made a name for myself at Arsenal; I was still on the verge. But I was getting celebrated by Nigerians. The love I was getting was mad.”

Over the years, players representing Nigeria have repeatedly raised concerns about issues such as delayed reimbursements for travel expenses, unpaid allowances, and poor training facilities.

Alex Iwobi has represented Nigeria at several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning silver and bronze medals in the two most recent editions. He was also part of the Super Eagles squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

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Watch the video below:

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