Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has cemented his place in Nigerian football history, surpassing legends Nwankwo Kanu and Muda Lawal to become the nation’s fifth most-capped player of all time. The milestone was achieved during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday, where Iwobi earned his 87th international cap.
The accomplishment comes after he drew level with both Kanu and Lawal in the previous 1-0 victory over Rwanda, a win that has significantly boosted the Super Eagles’ hopes of World Cup qualification.
Born in Lagos, Iwobi made the pivotal decision to switch his international allegiance from England in 2015, making his senior debut in a friendly against DR Congo. Since then, the former Arsenal academy product has become a consistent and influential presence in the national team. He featured in all three of Nigeria’s group stage matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and has represented the country in three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2019, 2021, and 2023).
In a past interview with Arsenal Player, Iwobi reflected on his choice, stating it was a “difficult decision” to turn down England, but the overwhelming support from Nigerian fans made the choice an easy one. “The love Nigeria showed me… when I played for them in a friendly, the fans were just crazy,” he said, highlighting the passionate reception he received.
Iwobi, who has scored 10 international goals for the Super Eagles, is now focused on climbing further up the all-time list. He is just four caps shy of equalling John Obi Mikel’s record of 91 appearances. The top spot is currently held by Ahmed Musa with an impressive 111 caps.
