Alex Iwobi, a midfielder for the Super Eagles, has discussed the stark contrasts between the atmosphere of the Nigerian and England national teams, pointing out that his early experiences with the Nigerian system were far less regimented than what he was accustomed to with England.
Iwobi, who was born in Lagos and relocated to England when he was four years old, played youth football for England up to the under-18 squad before deciding to dedicate his future to the Nigerian national football team.
“Playing for England and playing for Nigeria are very different. England is a bit more strict. In St George’s Park National Football Centre or in a hotel, no one is allowed to come in, strict food, strict regime — that is it,” he said.
“Nigeria now, sometimes your flight is not booked properly. You have to book your own flight. You get there, and sometimes the people at the airport are not ready to pick you up, so you have to make your own way. The hotels are OK. Sometimes the light goes out, sometimes you do not have anywhere to charge your phone. In England, no one is allowed in the hotel. In Nigeria, people can come into your room whenever they want.”
“My uncle and my dad said, just at least try once with Nigeria. So I tried the under-23s just to see, and then I could compare what I prefer. The pitch we were training on would have half grass, half AstroTurf, and maybe a bit of sand on the side.
“The coaches were strict in the sense that if you mess up a pass, you do not just get told off — you have to do a lap around the pitch.”
“It took a lot of convincing at the time, but I have no regrets. I did love England, but because I grew up in a Nigerian household, Nigeria has always been a part of me,” he said.
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