Iwobi Says No Regrets About Choosing Nigeria Over England Ahead Of 100th Cap

Alex Iwobi stressed there was no regret about choosing Nigeria over England as a senior international, as the Fulham midfielder prepared for a landmark 100th cap. Nigeria were due to face Portugal in Leiria on Wednesday, a friendly that would place Iwobi among the country’s most experienced players.

The 30-year-old joined an elite Nigeria group with Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa, the only others to reach three figures in appearances. Iwobi came through youth systems for both England and Nigeria yet committed fully to the Super Eagles, even though they failed to reach the 2026 World Cup.

Iwobi already built a long record in major tournaments for Nigeria. The playmaker featured at the 2018 World Cup and then played a key role at consecutive Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria reached the 2023 AFCON final but lost, and then claimed third place at the 2026 edition.

At the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria lost to Morocco in the semi-finals before defeating Egypt in the third-place play-off. That campaign added to Iwobi’s tournament experience, even though missing the 2026 World Cup remained a clear disappointment for the squad and supporters.

The midfielder reflected on the decision to represent Nigeria rather than pushing for a senior England career. Iwobi had represented both countries at youth level, yet felt stronger ties with the Super Eagles setup. The choice aligned with advice from family, including Nigeria icon Jay-Jay Okocha.

Iwobi expressed strong attachment to the national colours and long international journey. "I am proud to be where I am today; proud to wear the green-and-white," Iwobi said in remarks shared by the Nigeria Football Federation. "I have no regrets choosing Nigeria. Yes, I would have loved to win the AFCON and perhaps be with the Eagles at the FIFA World Cup that is about to kick off in a few days' time, but no regrets."

The Fulham player also detailed how Okocha guided the choice without forcing it. "He always said go and do what's right, go and enjoy your football," Iwobi added. "Of course, he's a Nigeria legend, and the advice I got from my parents and from him was that before you take a decision on where you want to play, give Nigeria a trial and see how you feel. So I actually went to the under-23s and experienced it for myself, and I felt a lot like I'm at home. No disrespect to England because I had a good time there, but Nigeria is where my heart is. So yeah, he did influence me a bit, but at the at the end of the day, it was ultimately my decision."

As Iwobi prepared to reach 100 caps against Portugal, the long-serving midfielder underlined that Nigeria remained the right choice, despite missing trophies and another World Cup appearance. The record of AFCON finals, third place and a World Cup tournament shaped a career Iwobi viewed with clear satisfaction.