‘You pay for your flight, wash your kit’ — Alex Iwobi speaks on playing for Nigeria

Iwobi gave the account of his experiences playing for the Eagles in a chat with Adebayo Akinfenwa on the ‘Beast Mode On’ podcast.

The 30-year-old has made 100 caps for Nigeria since 2015. He had represented England across multiple youth levels before switching to Nigeria at age 19.

The Fulham midfielder opened up about his early days with the team, revealing logistical and well-being arrangements surrounding the national team.

Iwobi revealed that he was inching toward playing for the English senior national team when Nigeria’s call-up came and he was advised to give his country of birth a try.

“I spoke to my dad and my uncle, and they said ‘at least give Nigeria a try, and if I don’t like it, then you can say you’ve given that a go’,” he said.

“I went to Nigeria. Obviously, you have to sort out your own flight. We were like three in my room. You get to the hotel, and there’s no electricity. You wash your own kit,” he added.

“The pitch is only half grass, half astroturf. If you make one bad pass, the coach is screaming at you. But I loved the food. I just felt like I was at home. I had not even made a name for myself at Arsenal; I was still on the verge. But I was getting celebrated by Nigerians. The love I was getting was mad.”

Over the years, members of the Nigerian national teams have occasionally raised concerns over delayed flight reimbursements, camp allowances, and training facility infrastructure.

Iwobi has played in multiple Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments for Nigeria, winning silver and bronze in recent editions. He also featured at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.