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Alex Iwobi Reveals Arsène Wenger’s Advice Before Nigeria Debut

Tolu Shotade

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Last updated: Fri 17 Apr 2026 18:40

Tolu Shotade 2 hours ago

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Alex Iwobi faced a career-defining choice between England and Nigeria.
Wenger advised patience for England, but Iwobi chose Nigeria, fueled by family influences.
Iwobi's decision proved successful and aligned with his personal fulfillment.

Alex Iwobi

Alex Iwobi has opened up about the pivotal conversation he had with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger before deciding to represent Nigeria over England.

Speaking on the Beast Mode On podcast, the Fulham midfielder reflected on the advice that nearly changed the course of his international career.

Wenger’s Advice: "Wait for England"

Arsène Wenger initially advised a young Iwobi to be patient and consider waiting for a senior call-up from England. Having represented the Three Lions at the U16, U17, and U18 levels, Iwobi was a highly-rated prospect within the English FA's youth setup.

Wenger’s perspective was that Iwobi’s technical ceiling was high enough to eventually break into the England senior squad if he remained consistent in the Arsenal first team.

Wenger later admitted that the English FA "did not push hard enough" to secure Iwobi during that crucial period in 2015. While there was a late, desperate attempt by the FA to convince him to stay after he broke into the Arsenal senior side, Nigeria had already integrated him into their U23 and senior plans.

The Decision to Choose Nigeria

Despite Wenger’s suggestion to wait, Iwobi felt a deeper connection to his roots. He credited his father, Chuka Iwobi, and his uncle, the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha, with providing the necessary perspective.

They encouraged him to "at least try" with the Nigeria U23 team to experience the environment. Iwobi noted that while the logistical side of Nigerian football, such as booking his own flights and training on sand-mixed pitches, was a shock compared to the strict, luxurious regime of St. George’s Park, the passion of the fans was incomparable.

The turning point came when he saw the "god-like" reception his uncle received in Lagos. Iwobi realized he wanted to feel that level of love and cultural impact, leading him to make his competitive debut for the Super Eagles against Egypt in 2016.

Wenger’s Final Verdict

Years after the choice was made, Wenger conceded that Iwobi looked "very happy" and had made the right decision for his personal fulfillment. The manager praised the midfielder for bringing a creative spark to the Nigerian team, noting that he had seen many players of Nigerian descent find immense pride in returning to their parents' country.

Iwobi’s famous goal against Zambia, which secured Nigeria’s spot in the 2018 World Cup, remains the ultimate validation of ignoring the "wait for England" advice.