Iwobi set for big matches against Portugal and Poland

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has said he is fit and ready for Nigeria’s friendlies in June against Poland and Portugal. This news is a boost for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle ahead of these tough matches, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Iwobi had some fitness worries after hurting his hamstring against Brentford in April. But the 30-year-old has bounced back, starting Fulham’s last two Premier League games. He confirmed he is in good shape for the international games.

“I’m grateful to be back fit after injury,” Iwobi said on the Alexander Yaa Digg podcast.
“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.”

His return is especially important because several players have withdrawn from the squad. Victor Osimhen is out for personal reasons. Ademola Lookman, Femi Azeez, Samson Tijani, Alhassan Yusuf, and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro are also unavailable. This situation means Chelle has to change his plans a lot.

If Iwobi plays in the first match against Poland in Warsaw, he will earn his 100th cap for the Super Eagles. He will then become only the fourth Nigerian player to reach this milestone, joining Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, and Ahmed Musa.

Iwobi, who was part of Arsenal's academy and became cap-tied to Nigeria in March 2016, talked about his mixed season. He then shifted his focus to facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland.

“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.

Iwobi also looked back at Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He believes the team’s goals will only get bigger from here.

“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. Hopefully, next season we can do that. I can do that again personally as well, personally try to get more stats, more goals,” he added.