Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has opened up on the conversation he had with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger before making cap-tying appearance for Nigeria. 

Iwobi, who now plays for Fulham, disclosed that Wenger advised him to carefully consider his options, including the possibility of waiting for a chance to represent England at senior level. 

Speaking on the Beast Mode On podcast, Iwobi reflected on the contrasting experiences between England’s structured setup and Nigeria’s more unpredictable environment. 

“Always an honour. Nigeria and England are two different setups. With England, there’s a strict itinerary—you stick to it, you stick to the time, you’re never late," Iwobi said. 

"Obviously, it’s one to a room, and the fans are a bit more controlled; you sign autographs.

“Nigeria—don’t get me wrong, I love playing for my country. However, sometimes you have to book your own flight, sometimes you have to pay for your upgrade. No NEPA (electricity) when that goes."

Despite representing England at several youth levels, Iwobi saw his progression stall due to limited first-team opportunities at Arsenal. 

However, his international future took a decisive turn when Nigeria approached him with an invitation to be part of the Olympic setup. After discussions with his family, he opted to explore the opportunity.

“I was 19 when I started playing for Nigeria," he explained. "I was playing for England U16s, U17s, U18s, and then it dried up because I wasn’t playing regularly with the first team, which is hard at Arsenal.

“Everyone else who played for England U21s was more or less playing first-team football—Championship or League One—on a regular basis, starting and making a name for themselves. And I just wasn’t that guy at the time.

“Then I started playing for Arsenal. Gareth Southgate was the U21s manager at the time. The Arsenal first-team manager spoke to him, and they said, ‘We are thinking of calling you up to the first team, but we want you to play for the U21s.’ This was when Nigeria came knocking, saying they wanted me to play in the Olympics.

“I spoke to my dad and uncle, and they said at least give Nigeria a try. If you don’t like the training or facilities, then you can say you’ve had a go." 

Iwobi recounted his early experiences in the Nigerian camp, describing modest conditions but a strong sense of belonging.

"I then went to Nigeria, obviously, you have to sort out your flight and the hotel. I remember there were three of us in my room. You have to wash your own kit. The pitch was half grass; the AstroTurf was off the pitch, like it had just been finished," Iwobi revealed. 

“The coach, if you make one bad pass, he’ll say, ‘What is wrong with you now?’ I remember one guy passed the ball off the pitch and they made him do two laps. I was thinking, ‘This is mad.’

Despite the challenges, the midfielder said he was struck by the passion of Nigerian fans and the cultural connection he felt with the team.

“I was enjoying it. The food was obviously jollof rice; we had yam and egg in the morning,.

"I just felt I was at home. I hadn’t even made a name for myself at Arsenal, but they knew about me. I was getting stopped at the airport and being celebrated. The love of the game was there."

The pivotal moment came when he received a call-up for a match against Egypt. Wenger, according to Iwobi, left the final decision in his hands.

“I was still trying to sort out FIFA clearance. I couldn’t play the knockout games to qualify for the Olympics, but I went to watch and be part of the squad. The away fans turned up with instruments, making noise. I felt like I was at home—this is where I belong.

“It got to a time when I had to play for Nigeria’s first team, so they called me up against Egypt. Wenger said, ‘What do you want to do? You can delay it so you can think about England, or you can go and represent Nigeria.’ Because of the experience I had, I wanted to go and represent Nigeria. He said they were going to stand by me and wished me all the best.

“I love playing for England because it’s a strict regime, disciplined, with the best players around. But Nigeria is always fun. You never know what to expect—good or bad.”

 Iwobi made his Super Eagles debut in October 2015, featuring in a friendly defeat to DR Congo national football team in Visé, Belgium.

Since then, he has established himself as a key figure for Nigeria, earning 98 caps and registering 10 goals.

Adeyemi Adewale