Alex Iwobi Set for 100th Super Eagles Cap Against Portugal, Names 2018 World Cup Qualifier as Career Highlight

Alex Iwobi is poised to reach a landmark 100 appearances for the Super Eagles when Nigeria take on Portugal in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday, 11 June 2026. Should he feature in the match, the 30-year-old Fulham midfielder will become just the fourth player in the history of the Nigerian national team to reach the century mark in international caps.

Ahead of the occasion, Iwobi singled out one moment above all others from a career spanning more than a decade in the green and white of Nigeria. His winning goal against Zambia at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo in October 2017 — a 1-0 result that clinched Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia — remains the defining memory of his international journey.

“I loved that occasion because both my mum and dad were in the stadium. They witnessed everything, and we celebrated together afterwards. It was a very special moment,” Iwobi recalled.

The personal significance of the goal was heightened by the presence of his parents in the stands, making it not only a professional achievement but a family occasion he has carried with him throughout his career.

Iwobi made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 and has since established himself as one of the most consistently selected players in the Nigerian setup. A technically versatile midfielder, he has represented the country at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, collecting a silver medal at the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast and bronze medals at the 2019 tournament in Egypt and the 2025 edition. He was also part of the Nigerian squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia — the same tournament his qualifying goal helped secure.

Despite those individual and collective achievements, Iwobi has acknowledged that winning the Africa Cup of Nations outright and participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup are goals that have eluded him. Nevertheless, he has expressed no regret over his choice to represent Nigeria rather than pursue international football elsewhere, a decision that has occasionally been a subject of discussion given his formative years at Arsenal in England.

“I have no regrets choosing Nigeria,” Iwobi has been quoted as saying ahead of the Portugal fixture, according to reports.

The friendly against Portugal comes as Nigeria also prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, with the Super Eagles using the international window to build cohesion and assess squad depth. Portugal, meanwhile, present a formidable test, adding competitive relevance to what might otherwise be a routine pre-tournament fixture.

If Iwobi does reach 100 caps in Leiria, he will join an exclusive group of Nigerian footballers to have achieved the feat, further consolidating his status as one of the most decorated and enduring figures in Super Eagles history. The milestone also places him ahead of former captain Ahmed Musa in the all-time appearances list, according to reports.