EXCLUSIVE: I can’t wait to play for Nigeria – Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, who has recently been called up by coach Sunday Oliseh for the international friendly matches against Congo DR and Cameroon, spoke exclusively to Goal from his base in London. An attacking midfielder who can also play as an attacker, Iwobi trained with the Nigeria U23 squad tutored by Samson Siasia ahead of an All-Africa Games qualifying return leg match against Zambia in March 2015 but couldn’t play. Now that he has gotten Fifa clearance and the chance to play for his fatherland, the elated 19-year-old had this interesting chat with Goal’s correspondent Shemmy Sholabomi. Goal: How are you looking forward to your first cap for the Super Eagles in friendly matches against strong African teams Cameroun and Democratic Republic of Congo? Alex Iwobi: It’s a privilege to be invited to this great Nigerian national team and also to represent my fatherland. I just look forward to playing. I can’t wait to join the Nigerian team for the two friendly matches in Belgium. It is a great honour to put on the Nigerian green-white-green jersey. You will be playing alongside top-rated Nigerian players like Mikel Obi and Victor Moses and others, are you ready to prove yourself as a quality striker among them? Well I can’t wait to play with the world class players that abound in the Nigerian team. I am still young and I am still learning the trade, so playing alongside these great players will do a lot of good to my playing career and most especially the development of my game and my future as a football player. It will definitely give me the needed national team experience like I am experiencing with my club Arsenal now having been promoted to the first team. Alex and his father, a key influence in his decision to play for Nigeria How much do you know about the Nigerian national team coach Sunday Oliseh? I used to look up to him when I was younger. I knew him to be a great player. He had great technique as a defensive midfielder and he shielded the ball well and took shots too. So I am eager to work with him and I believe he will bring out the best in me. You are a player that can play as a striker and as an attacking midfielder. But what is your preferred position as a player that can bring out the best in you? I prefer to play as an attacking midfielder, but in Arsenal because we have a lot of talented players so I just have to play on both the right and left wings as the boss pleases. If anything my preferred position is playing behind the strikers. How do you feel breaking into the first team of Arsenal Football Club? I was very happy because I just wanted to play for this team. Arsenal is one of the best clubs in the world so it is a rare and great privilege to be in this team and to play for the first team. I think I am lucky to be chosen and I try to do everything I could to prove my inclusion whenever I am called upon by our manager to play. Yes I am happy and bouncing but I still wish I can get more minutes of playing time that any young player like me will crave to get. The Manager Arsene Wenger is known for giving young players the opportunity to play, most especially in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. How soon do you think you can break into the starting XI? I sincerely pray against having injuries which I believe can slow down any player. Since the boss (Arsene Wenger) didn’t want me to go on loan this season then I think I should be involved in the team’s programmes this season. I have been working hard too on and off the field of play to always justify my inclusion in the team any time my boss calls on me to play. Finally, what is your message to your fans across the globe now that you have gotten the opportunity of playing for your fatherland, Nigeria having been promoted to the first team of Arsenal? Well I can’t wait to show hopefully what I can do on the pitch for my country. I sincerely hope there will be more opportunity for me henceforth to put on the green-white-green jersey of Nigeria and to help win trophies for my country. I am excited to play for a great country like Nigeria and a great team like the Super Eagles.