Arsenal Will Not Block Alex Iwobi From Representing Nigeria In Olympic Games, Says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that the club will not block Alex Iwobi from representing the Nigeria U23s at the 2016 Olympic Games.

It would be recalled that the attacking midfielder trained with the Samson Siasia-led side a year ago and would have debuted for the team during the All-Africa Games qualifiers if not for the uncertainty surrounding his paperwork.

Note that Fifa stated in September 2015 that European teams are not mandated to release players for the tournament in Rio since it is outside the calendar for international matches, but Arsenal will not stand in Iwobi’s way nonetheless.

“We have to respect his choice. He had the choice between England and Nigeria and in the end he chose Nigeria,” Wenger told reporters at Thursday’s press conference, according to arsenal.com.

“We respect that, and also the possibility that he will go to the Olympic Games, that he will also go to the Africa Cup of Nations and travel a bit more than he would have done here.

“We have to respect that.”

The 19-year-old Alex Iwobi has four caps for the Super Eagles which he earned in games against Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and most recently Egypt.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel