Nigeria's Iwobi plays Santa with his Christmas shop

Alex Iwobi has been spreading festive cheer in east London by opening up his own temporary shop.

The Fulham and Nigeria star has been giving out free food, including turkeys, to local residents struggling to pay for their Christmas dinner.

BBC Sport Africa went along to Alexpress to see Iwobi in action behind the till.

Welcome to Alexpress!

@FulhamFC's Alex Iwobi is providing free food in his pop-up shop, so more families in his community can enjoy a magical Christmas day

A beautiful, kind gesture, @alexiwobi


🎥 @BBCAfrica

Iwobi opens shop to donate free Chrismas food to poor families in London

by Idris Shehu
December 23, 2024

Alex Iwobi, the Super Eagles midfielder, has opened a temporary shop where poor families can get free food for Christmas celebrations.

The shop, named ‘Alexpress’, is situated in Canning Town in East London, the community where the footballer was raised.

The pop-up stall is loaded with various food items stacked neatly in rows, and all offerings have a price tag of £0.

In a chat with the BBC, Iwobi cited his parents as his “role models,” who have inspired him to be altruistic since he was younger.

“This is where I was raised for my primary school education. People, families are going come in. They select a drink and the stuff for the house. There are different foods that they can take, and by the end of it, there is a turkey,” the 28-year-old said.

“‘Alexpress’ is a minimart to try to give out food to families that are not able to get food for Christmas. If I can help them celebrate Christmas, why not?

“Just seeing how my parents are, I have always seen them give back. And with that as my role models, I fill like when I am in a position I am today, or if I was in less position, I would try my best to give back and help the less fortunate and people who are not able to eat.”

Recently, Iwobi has shown the alternative sides of his life outside of football more often.

In October, in a chat with TheCable, Iwobi revealed that he started making music when he was 14, alongside his pursuit of a professional football career.

He added that he has “so many unreleased songs” and more will be released soon.

The footballer then released ‘What’s Luv’, his second single, on October 31.

AleXpress ~ It’s On Us This Christmas.
We Do Food, You Do Family!

naptu2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpJWyH-wUIk?si=2FsBC68Ak6S0V5c0



https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/videos/c4g3pyk393vo

Premier League @premierleague



https://x.com/premierleague/status/1871504844147613822

Photo: Alex Iwobi opens a pop-up shop called 'Alexepress' in East London to help provide free food for poor families

913 549 1084 opà y

Ishilove:

Why does this fellow look like Jay Jay Okocha?

Ishilove:

Why does this fellow look like Jay Jay Okocha?

Sonnobax15:
what a kind gesture from the Nigerian super eagle's flop

I can bet my two dangling balls plus my keke spare tyres that there won't be any stampede or whatsoever there

But down here,even to do ordinary giveaway with your hard earned money fit be your only free ticket to chilling inside jail till after the naming ceremony of Jesus Christ

Ishilove:

Why does this fellow look like Jay Jay Okocha?

Eriokanmi:
Stampede is an orchestrated plan by politicians to take human blood. It's a modern and clean way of redeeming their vows. Take food items to any state or area, invite people to cone pick theirs. At least, one must die.

Ishilove:

Why does this fellow look like Jay Jay Okocha?

naptu2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpJWyH-wUIk?si=2FsBC68Ak6S0V5c0



https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/videos/c4g3pyk393vo

Premier League @premierleague



https://x.com/premierleague/status/1871504844147613822

Photo: Alex Iwobi opens a pop-up shop called 'Alexepress' in East London to help provide free food for poor families

Proudlyngwa:

Nothing to say

Lost one of my Tenant yesterday

Sad Christmas.



May Other people's carelessness not lead to our demise.