Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has offered a candid account of his experiences with the Nigerian national team, revealing some of the challenges players face while representing the country despite his deep affection for wearing the green and white jersey.
In an interview that has gone viral across social media, the Fulham midfielder said his commitment to Nigeria has never wavered, even though national team duty sometimes comes with personal financial and logistical burdens.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love playing for my country. Of course, yeah. However, sometimes you have to book your own flight,” Iwobi said.
He added that players occasionally bear additional travel costs themselves, saying, “Sometimes you have to pay for your upgrade. Obviously, because you want to be comfortable, sometimes you have to sort your own flight.”
Iwobi also recalled difficult accommodation and training conditions during some international assignments.
“The hotels, I remember my room, there was like three in my room. You have to wash your own kit. The pitch was half grass, half astro,” he said.
Describing the training environment, the midfielder said mistakes were often met with stern reactions from the coaching staff.
“The staff, like, the coach, if you make one bad pass, ‘What is wrong with you now?’” he recalled.
He also recounted an incident in which a player was punished after misplacing a pass.
“I remember one time, when a youth passed the ball off the pitch, they made him do two laps,” Iwobi said.
Despite the challenges, the former Arsenal player insisted representing Nigeria remains a source of pride and belonging.
“So I’m thinking, yo, like, this is mad. But it just feels like home to me. I was learning, but like I was enjoying it,” he said.
Iwobi also highlighted the cultural connection he experiences whenever he joins the national team camp, particularly through Nigerian cuisine.
“The food was just, obviously, jollof rice, asaro. In the morning, you’re having yam and egg. I just felt like I was at home,” he said.
The interview has generated widespread discussion online, with many football fans reflecting on the conditions described by the Super Eagles midfielder and calling for continued improvements to players’ welfare during national team engagements.
(The Sun)