Nigeria’s midfield dynamo, Alex Iwobi, isn’t hanging up his international boots anytime soon, despite some recent chatter suggesting otherwise.
Following Nigeria’s loss in the 2023 AFCON final on February 11th, where the Super Eagles fell 2-1 to Ivory Coast, Iwobi faced a barrage of online criticism from disappointed fans. The backlash prompted him to wipe his Instagram clean, sparking rumors that he might step away from the national squad.
However, according to insights from Guardian UK reporter, Osasu Obayiuwana, who is privy to sources close to both Iwobi and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the midfielder isn’t planning to exit the Eagles’ setup.
In a recent statement, Obayiuwana shared, “I just spoke to someone extremely close to @NGSuperEagles @alexiwobi. I won’t name the person, because he’s asked me not to quote him. But he knows Alex as well as anyone possibly can.
“This is what he has to say, “Alex is totally unaffected by all the noise that has been making the rounds. He has no plans to quit the Eagles, as he loves playing for his country. He cannot be hounded out by the opinions of people whose opinions don’t matter…
“Mental strength is key in this business and Alex wouldn’t be playing at this level for over nine years if he was weak. He is now a veteran of the game and doesn’t allow such negativity to get to him.
“There will always be haters and trolls but the majority of #Nigerians love him and appreciate his talent and what he has achieved…”
If these insights hold true, Alex Iwobi is set to rejoin his Super Eagles comrades in June for the next phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. During this period, Nigeria is scheduled to face off against South Africa and the Benin Republic.
