Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has reached a major milestone in his international career after earning his 100th appearance for Nigeria in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Portugal.
The Fulham midfielder becomes one of the few Nigerian players to join the prestigious 100-cap club, alongside football icons such as Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa.
Iwobi made his debut for Nigeria in October 2015 and has remained a consistent presence in the national team for more than a decade. Since then, he has grown from a promising youngster into one of the Super Eagles’ most experienced and dependable midfielders.
The 30-year-old, who is the nephew of former Nigerian captain Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, has often been linked to his family’s football legacy because of his creativity and composure on the ball. But over the years, Iwobi has carved out his own identity through consistency and commitment in the green and white jersey.
Speaking ahead of the milestone appearance, Iwobi said he remains proud of his decision to represent Nigeria internationally rather than England.
“I am proud to wear the green and white. After all these years, I have enjoyed my time with the Super Eagles, and I have no regrets,” he said.
Iwobi has represented Nigeria at several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and was part of the squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. One of the standout moments of his international career came in 2017, when he scored the decisive goal against Zambia to secure Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup.
Although delighted to reach 100 caps, the midfielder admitted he would have preferred to celebrate the achievement on the stage of a major tournament, particularly the FIFA World Cup.
His century of appearances underlines a career built on durability, adaptability and loyalty to the national team, as he continues to play a central role in Nigeria’s midfield setup.
