Rising star who wore the
Three Lions at youth level has
now played two friendlies for
the country of his birth and
could be tied to them by this
Friday
SHARES
COMMENTS
Young Gunn: Iwobi is
officially a Nigeria player if
he faces Egypt on Friday or
next Tuesday
The FA are making a last-ditch
bid to try to stop Arsenal
starlet Alex Iwobi committing
his international future to
Nigeria.
New kid on the block Iwobi is
at the centre of a tug of war
between England and Nigeria
again after becoming a
regular in the Gunners' first
team set-up since the turn of
the year.
The 19-year-old has started
three of Arsenal’s last four
games and capped his full
Premier League debut at
Everton on Saturday with a
man-of-the-match display and
his first Gunners goal.
Forward Iwobi has already
slipped through England’s
fingers once, having played for
the Three Lions’ Under-16,
U17 and U18 sides before
choosing to represent Nigeria
— the country of his birth.
In pictures — Arsenal beat
Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park:
Iwobi – nephew of former
Super Eagles captain Jay Jay
Okocha – has played in two
friendlies for Nigeria, but
won’t be officially tied to them
until he plays a competitive
game.
That has left the door open for
the FA to try to persuade him
to switch back and represent
England - but they are facing a
race against time.
Have your say in our
comments section below
Family guy: Bolton legend
Jay Jay Okocha (right) is
Iwobi's uncle
Iwobi is in line to make his
competitive debut THIS WEEK
after being named in Nigeria’s
squad for their Africa Cup of
Nations qualifying double
header against Egypt, who
they host this Friday before
the away return next Tuesday.
That has prompted desperate
late attempts from the FA to
try to get Iwobi to change his
mind.
There is no suggestion Iwobi
will be fast-tracked into the
senior England set-up and
handed a premature call-up.
But FA chiefs do see him as a
potential future Three Lions
international and know their
hopes of landing him will be
dashed if he plays in Nigeria’s
upcoming games.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
has backed up the FA’s views
on Iwobi by giving the
youngster a glowing
reference.
Read more: Arsenal starlet
Alex Iwobi profiled after his
first Prem goal
He is understood to have told
the FA the player has a big
future at the North Londoners
and, having let him get away
once, they should do
everything possible to try to
get him back.
www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-launch-last-gasp-alex-7597846?ICID_mirror_MF

yashau:
Rising star who wore the
Three Lions at youth level has
now played two friendlies for
the country of his birth and
could be tied to them by this
Friday
SHARES
COMMENTS
Young Gunn: Iwobi is
officially a Nigeria player if
he faces Egypt on Friday or
next Tuesday
The FA are making a last-ditch
bid to try to stop Arsenal
starlet Alex Iwobi committing
his international future to
Nigeria.
New kid on the block Iwobi is
at the centre of a tug of war
between England and Nigeria
again after becoming a
regular in the Gunners' first
team set-up since the turn of
the year.
The 19-year-old has started
three of Arsenal’s last four
games and capped his full
Premier League debut at
Everton on Saturday with a
man-of-the-match display and
his first Gunners goal.
Forward Iwobi has already
slipped through England’s
fingers once, having played for
the Three Lions’ Under-16,
U17 and U18 sides before
choosing to represent Nigeria
— the country of his birth.
In pictures — Arsenal beat
Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park:
Iwobi – nephew of former
Super Eagles captain Jay Jay
Okocha – has played in two
friendlies for Nigeria, but
won’t be officially tied to them
until he plays a competitive
game.
That has left the door open for
the FA to try to persuade him
to switch back and represent
England - but they are facing a
race against time.
Have your say in our
comments section below
Family guy: Bolton legend
Jay Jay Okocha (right) is
Iwobi's uncle
Iwobi is in line to make his
competitive debut THIS WEEK
after being named in Nigeria’s
squad for their Africa Cup of
Nations qualifying double
header against Egypt, who
they host this Friday before
the away return next Tuesday.
That has prompted desperate
late attempts from the FA to
try to get Iwobi to change his
mind.
There is no suggestion Iwobi
will be fast-tracked into the
senior England set-up and
handed a premature call-up.
But FA chiefs do see him as a
potential future Three Lions
international and know their
hopes of landing him will be
dashed if he plays in Nigeria’s
upcoming games.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
has backed up the FA’s views
on Iwobi by giving the
youngster a glowing
reference.
Read more: Arsenal starlet
Alex Iwobi profiled after his
first Prem goal
He is understood to have told
the FA the player has a big
future at the North Londoners
and, having let him get away
once, they should do
everything possible to try to
get him back.
www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-launch-last-gasp-alex-7597846?ICID_mirror_MF

op u too dey lie.Iwobi has featured for Nigeria against Swaziland.

Kog45:
op u too dey lie.Iwobi has featured for Nigeria against Swaziland.

recheck your fact and qoute me back... Cheers!

yashau:
recheck your fact and qoute me back... Cheers!

My guy sorry for using word LIE but u got it wrong.Iwobi cannot play for England again bcs he has played for super eagle in a Fifa recognise friendly match and even feature aganst swaziland as a substitute.Pls go and check archive and dispute it.

Kog45:
My guy sorry for using word LIE but u got it wrong.Iwobi cannot play for England again bcs he has played for super eagle in a Fifa recognise friendly match and even feature aganst swaziland as a substitute.Pls go and check archive and dispute it.

Friendly matches don't count.

Naijiant:

Friendly matches don't count.

it count my guy

Who needs him...the guys not even that good, wonder what's all the fuss is about

bobbymartinz:
Who needs him...the guys not even that good, wonder what's all the fuss is about

No my guy we need him.He is a promising player who can become a great player 2moro though d hype is too much

Kog45:
My guy sorry for using word LIE but u got it wrong.Iwobi cannot play for England again bcs he has played for super eagle in a Fifa recognise friendly match and even feature aganst swaziland as a substitute.Pls go and check archive and dispute it.

Iwobi is
officially a Nigeria player if
he faces Egypt on Friday or
next Tuesday....so my guy you can only be an international player of a country only if you play a competative match not friendly match oooo the match against swaziland was a friendly.

yashau:
Iwobi is
officially a Nigeria player if
he faces Egypt on Friday or
next Tuesday....so my guy you can only be an international player of a country only if you play a competative match not friendly match oooo the match against swaziland was a friendly.

the match against swaziland is not a friendly but world cup qualify. But this england sef. Dey don collect dele alli ross barkley and also won collect ibe. Shu na wetin. May dey leave dis one 4 us jare

nelxxy:
the match against swaziland is not a friendly but world cup qualify. But this england sef. Dey don collect dele alli ross barkley and also won collect ibe. Shu na wetin. May dey leave dis one 4 us jare

He played against DR Congo and Cameroon,not Swaziland. Both were friendilies.

Kog45:
it count my guy

You could have easily educated yourself. But let me help you.

Any Player who ... [assumes] a new nationality and who has not played international football [in a match ... in an official competition of any category or any type of football for one Association] shall be eligible to play for the new representative team only if he fulfills one of the following conditions:
(a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
(b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
(c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
(d) He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_eligibility_rules

A friendly match is not an official competition.

Kog45:
it count my guy

friendly matches are nt regarded as competitive

yashau:
Iwobi is
officially a Nigeria player if
he faces Egypt on Friday or
next Tuesday....so my guy you can only be an international player of a country only if you play a competative match not friendly match oooo the match against swaziland was a friendly.

says who? we played swaziland home and away in a world cup match. u do u play friendlies home and away? iwobi played a match in kd if i can remember, if not against swaziland then that should be the match against chad.

edi287:

He played against DR Congo and Cameroon,not Swaziland. Both were friendilies.

true, i rmber now