Alex Iwobi has confirmed his availability for Nigeria’s upcoming June friendlies against Poland and Portugal, offering a major boost to the Super Eagles as they prepare for high-profile matches amid a wave of player withdrawals. The Fulham midfielder, who was initially doubtful due to a hamstring injury sustained in April, has recovered and played in Fulham’s final two Premier League matches, finishing the season in good form. His return comes at a crucial time as marquee forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Femi Azeez, Samson Tijani, Alhassan Yusuf, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro have all pulled out of the squad, leaving the team short-handed ahead of the international fixtures.
Iwobi’s participation in the match against Poland in Warsaw on Wednesday could mark a historic milestone in his international career. If he takes the field, he will earn his 100th cap for Nigeria, becoming only the fourth player in Super Eagles history to reach that landmark after Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, and Ahmed Musa. The 30-year-old, a product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, has been a consistent presence in the national team since switching allegiance from England in 2016 after playing in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt.
Reflecting on the 2025-2026 season, Iwobi spoke on the Alexander Yaa Digg podcast, acknowledging the challenges and achievements of Fulham’s campaign. He noted that while the club fell short of securing a European spot, he remains proud of the progress made. “The 2025–26 season has wrapped up, a season of ups and downs,” he said. “Of course, we wanted to secure a European spot, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nonetheless, we’ve got to be proud of what we achieved and how far Fulham has come as a club.”
Iwobi also touched on Nigeria’s third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, calling it a respectable result in a tough tournament. “Good season overall, also Afcon we did well,” he said. “When you go to a tournament you want to win it, but to achieve third place in a tough competition is still credit to ourselves. We always strive to achieve more to improve. Hopefully next season we can do that. I can do that again personally as well. Personally try to get more stats, more goals.”
Having recovered from injury and finished the season strongly, Iwobi is now focused on preparing for international duty. “I’m grateful to be back fit after injury,” he said. “I was able to finish the season feeling good. Of course, I’ve got to get ready for the international break, but I have a little time off to refresh.” His return adds depth and experience to the Super Eagles squad, which will need all available talent to compete against strong European opponents. As Nigeria looks to build momentum ahead of future tournaments, Iwobi’s continued presence remains a key factor in the team’s long-term plans.
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