Tag: Iwobi

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Plateau United 3-0 in a test game preparatory to Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Zambia with Arsenal star, Alex Iwobi again catching the eye with a brace.

Iwobi crowned a superb individual display when in the 54th minute he combined well with Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho to double the Eagles lead.

He fired his second goal on the stroke of full time off a rebound. His father, Chuka, in the stands could not have been prouder.

Gent of Belgium defensive midfielder, Anderson Esiti opened scoring in the 36th minute following a fine solo run.

Esiti’s fellow holding midfield colleague, Shehu Abdullahi was solid for the Eagles.

After a cautious start by both sides, Rangers forward Chisom Egbuchulam spurned the first clear-cut chance after nine minutes.

Plateau United, who finished 11th this past season, played more as a team than the Eagles with winger Bright Silas and overlapping defender Kelechi John outstanding for the Jos club.

The Eagles struggled to impose themselves on the match up to the first half an hour, before they upped their game.

In the second, what looked like the starting XI for Sunday’s match were introduced wholesale with right-back Musa Mohammed the only survivor from the first half.

It was a better contest after the interval with a lot more intensity.

However, Olympiacos striker, Brown Ideye was wasteful in front of the Plateau goal, while Joshua Obaje and Kabiru Umar posted a more assured performance at the other end of the pitch.

There were a few slips between Eagles central defenders Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong.

Eagles starting list (4-2-3-1): Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Carl Ikeme 46) – Kingsley Madu (Elderson Echiejile 46), Musa Mohammed, Uche Agbo (Kenneth Omeruo 46), Jamiu Alimi (William Troost-Ekong 46) – Shehu Abdullahi (Ogenyi Onazi 46), Anderson Esiti (Mikel Obi 46) – Ahmed Musa (Alex Iwobi 46), Chisom Egbuchulam (Moses Simon 46), Nosa Igiebor (Kelechi Iheanacho 46) – Godwin Obaje (Brown Ideye 46)

Arsenal attacker, Alex Iwobi believes Barcelona superstar, Neymar would be the ultimate signing for the Premier League club.

When asked who he would choose to sign, not including Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Iwobi, who has impressed for the Gunners in the early stages of 2016-17, went with the 24-year-old Camp Nou forward.

“Neymar, he’s entertaining,” the Nigeria international told Copa90. “But then again, if we bring in Neymar, that’s my position gone!”

Iwobi also revealed that his start against Barcelona in the Champions League earlier this year is the peak of his fledgling professional career so far.

“My best moment was definitely starting against Barcelona, that was mad,” he said. “It was such an experience. I’m young, it was my first proper start. I wasn’t even nervous, just  excited to play.

“Obviously it’s a nice feeling [Arsene Wenger trusts me], it gives you an extra confidence boost. To play in a game of such magnitude, I was buzzing. The fact that I kept playing a couple of games afterwards showed that he had faith in me.”

Premier League cult icon Jay-Jay Okocha is Iwobi’s uncle and the 20-year-old explained the huge impact that he has had on him, especially in recent years.

“Growing up I got advice with football but the older I get he’s probably helped off the pitch as well,” he added.

“As football’s such a short career, he’s trying to make sure that I’m gonna end up being like him, where he’s comfy when he’s retired. I want to be as good as him, or even better than him.”

Super Eagles and Arsenal striker Alex Iwobi has confessed that he won’t forget for a long time the hat-trick scored by legendary Nigerian former International  Kanu Nwankwo in the organized Arsenal Legends versus AC Milan Legends which was decided in London not too long ago.

Iwobi who has concluded plans to hit Abuja for the 2018 World Cup qualifier on Monday said the way Kanu moved and received ball during the match was a big surprise to him despite his age.

He said that he was a very proud man after the match which Kanu starred and also scored the three goals for Arsenal to lead the North London based side spanking AC Milan 4-2 in the match.

Iwobi has often declared that his cousin and former Eagles Captain Austin Okocha and Kanu are his role models and football idols.

“Alex met Kanu in Belgium when they played against Cameroon and again at the Emirates stadium when Kanu came to watch a match in which Alex played. Kanu and Alex have had a few chats and Kanu has been very complimentary of Alex and encouraged him to continue working hard.

“Alex was very excited to see Kanu’s hat-trick at the Emirates during the Arsenal Legends Match and his view is that Kanu has not lost his fantastic touch and technique. He said that Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo are his role models and footballers he would love to emulate”, a very close source to Iwobi told SportingLife yesterday.

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alex Iwobi will not play again for Arsenal until after the international break following a thigh injury he picked up against Liverpool last weekend.

The Frenchman was delighted that the injury sustained by the Nigeria international was not as bad as first feared.

“Both of them have minor muscular problems. I think they will be out until after the international break but we feared worse – for Iwobi especially, ” Wenger told arsenal.com, when questioned about Iwobi and Ramsey.

“It is a thigh problem for Iwobi, and Ramsey is a hamstring that will require two or three weeks. It is better news than we feared at the start..”

Iwobi will not be called up by new Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr for the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Tanzania early next month.

Alex Iwobi is a huge doubt for Arsenal’s next game in the Premier League with Leicester City after picking up an injury in the 4-3 loss to Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday evening.

On 59 minutes, the Nigeria national-teamer had to be replaced, and manager Arsene Wenger has stated in his post match comments that he sustained a thigh injury.

Questioned about Iwobi’s injury, Wenger told arsenal.com : “It’s a thigh injury.”

In the seven-goal thriller against Liverpool, the attacking midfielder teed up Walcott for the Gunners opening goal.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and  Calum Chambers also registered their names on the score sheet, while  Coutinho (2), Mane and Lallana netted for the Reds.

England U-21 international Chuba Akpom was a non-playing substitute.

Alex Iwobi has said he fancies Nigeria reaching the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia in two years time despite being pooled in “a tough group” in the African qualification series.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn against Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia but Iwobi is unfazed by the pedigree of the other contenders in their group though he acknowledged that his countrymen will come up against nations that are former winners of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

“It is a tough group for sure, but I don’t think there are any easy groups – it’s international level competition. I’m confident we can prevail, we definitely have the players to. If we prepare well, focus and play to the best of our ability I’m sure we will qualify. “All the teams [in the group] are good teams that have been former AFCON winners, and have players playing at the highest level, so we know we’ll be up against well-prepared teams,” said Iwobi to Fifa.com.

He now feels that the Nigerian squad can make amends in the World Cup qualification for their failure to reach the African tournament after they were edged out by Egypt.

“The Nations Cup is the biggest sporting tournament in Africa, so we were gutted. But as a team we have to look forward and focus on the World Cup and our qualification matches,” Iwobi said.

Nigeria and Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi has signed on as a Nike athlete, in what is yet another significant step in the 19-year-old’s fledgling career.

In a video posted on YouTube, the midfielder talked about his long-time admiration for the brand, stating that his first pair of boots were the Mercurial Vapours worn by legendary Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

“I’ve always been a fan, and to be associated with players like Neymar, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Mario] Gotze [who are] big players, and to say I’m involved with that is just an honour,” Iwobi said.

Nigerian youngsters, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi are not nursing any rivalry between them despite being two of the most high profile players in their age group.

Fans regularly compare both players after every Premier League game even though they feature in different positions for their clubs. Both will face each other in Sunday’s battle for third place on the EPL table.

A source close to Iwobi, who has been monitoring debates in Nigeria where fans are debating about the two talented players week in, week out, has told Goal that fans of both players should not see the two young stars as rivals but best of friends.

“Alex and Kelechi are very good friends and not rivals. They swapped kits when Arsenal played Manchester City at the beginning of the season and have been room mates on international duty for Nigeria,” the source told Goal.

“Kelechi even sent birthday wishes to Alex who turned 20 [on Wednesday].

“Alex is not in competition with Kelechi as they play in different positions and there is room for both of them in a team.

“Those who are close to Alex will tell you he is humble, a team player and has a good heart and wishes every player progress and success, that is the way he was brought up.”

Both players have played together for the Super Eagles in a competitive match twice against Egypt in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The duo are in line to play for the Super Eagles in friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg later this month as well as the Olympic Games in Rio with coach Samson Siasia.