Alex Iwobi has opened up on the stark contrasts between representing Nigeria national football team and the setup he experienced while playing for England’s youth sides, pointing to organisational challenges within the Nigeria Football Federation.
The Fulham midfielder shared his experience during an appearance on the High Performance Podcast, explaining that his early days with Nigeria came as a culture shock after years within England’s structured football environment.
Strict structure with England
Iwobi, who was born in Lagos but moved to England before the age of one, represented England national under-21 football team before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2015.
Reflecting on the differences between both national teams, the former Arsenal and Everton midfielder said England maintained strict organisation during national team camps.
“Playing for England and playing for Nigeria are two very different things. In England, things are stricter. Whenever you’re at St George’s, or you’re at the hotel, no one’s allowed to come in,” Iwobi said.
“The schedule was strict, alongside the food and the sleep regime. In Nigeria now, I have to watch what I say.”
Logistics issues with Nigeria
The 29-year-old added that players sometimes had to handle basic logistics themselves when reporting for international duty with Nigeria.
“Sometimes, your flight is not booked properly, you have to do that yourself, and when you land, the people at the airport are not ready to pick you up,” he said.
“So, you have to sometimes make your own way. The hotels are okay, but sometimes the light goes out, and you don’t have anywhere to charge your phone.”
Iwobi also recalled his first experience with Nigeria’s youth teams, explaining that it took encouragement from his family before he agreed to represent the country.
“My uncle and my dad said to me to try Nigeria once. It took a lot of convincing at the time for me to try the U-23 side,” he explained.
He added that training conditions also differed significantly.
“The pitches we played on had half grass, half astro-turfs and a bit of sand.”
Despite the challenges, Iwobi insisted he has no regrets about choosing Nigeria.
“I have no regrets. I do love England, but I think because I grew up in a Nigerian household, it’s always been a part of me.”