Alex Iwobi Set for Historic 100th Super Eagles Cap Against Poland and Portugal After Injury Recovery

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has declared himself available for Nigeria’s upcoming friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June, offering the Super Eagles a timely boost amid a significant injury and withdrawal crisis within the squad.

The 30-year-old had been a source of concern after sustaining a hamstring injury in a match against Brentford in April. However, the Hale End Academy graduate recovered sufficiently to start Fulham’s final two Premier League fixtures of the 2025/26 campaign. Speaking on the Alexander Yaa Digg podcast, Iwobi confirmed his readiness: “I’m grateful to be back fit after injury. I was able to finish the season feeling good. Of course, I’ve got to get ready for the international break, but I have a little time off to refresh.”

Iwobi’s return is particularly significant given the scale of absentees from the Super Eagles squad. Star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are both unavailable, with Femi Azeez, Samson Tijani, Alhassan Yusuf, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro also among those who have withdrawn ahead of the two fixtures.

Should Iwobi feature in the match against Poland in Warsaw on Wednesday, he will earn his 100th international cap — a landmark that only three Nigeria players have previously reached. Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, and Ahmed Musa are the only Super Eagles to have achieved the century milestone, making Iwobi’s potential achievement a historically significant moment for Nigerian football.

Iwobi was originally cap-tied to Nigeria in March 2016 against Egypt, having previously represented England at youth level. Over the past decade, he has developed into one of the most consistent figures in the Super Eagles setup, a role he has maintained across stints at Arsenal, Everton, and now Fulham.

Reflecting on his club season ahead of the international window, Iwobi acknowledged a mixed campaign. “The 2025/26 season has wrapped up, a season of ups and downs. Of course, we wanted to secure a European spot, but it wasn’t meant to be. Nonetheless, we’ve got to be proud of what we achieved and how far Fulham has come as a club,” he said.

Fulham ultimately fell short of securing continental football for next season, a target that had been within reach at various points during the campaign.

Iwobi also addressed Nigeria’s recent showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles finished third. While acknowledging the disappointment of not winning the tournament, he framed the result in a broader context of progress. “When you go to a tournament you want to win it, but to achieve third place in a tough competition is still credit to ourselves. We always strive to achieve more to improve. Hopefully next season we can do that. I can do that again personally as well — personally try to get more stats, more goals,” he said.

The two June friendlies will see Nigeria face Poland, whose squad includes Barcelona and former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, and Portugal, captained by all-time international top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. Both matches represent a significant test for a depleted Super Eagles side, but also an opportunity for Iwobi to cement his place in Nigerian football history.