Iwobi Closes In On Salah, Eyes Second Spot On All-Time African Premier League Appearances List
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi is on the verge of another Premier League milestone as he prepares to equal Mohamed Salah’s tally of 328 appearances and move joint-second on the all-time African list.
The Fulham midfielder has made 327 Premier League appearances, just one behind the Liverpool forward, who recorded 13 for Chelsea and 315 for Liverpool.
Iwobi could draw level with Salah when Fulham visit Coventry City on Saturday, in a fixture that will also reunite him with former Everton manager Frank Lampard.
Former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender Kolo Touré leads the stated African appearances chart with 353, leaving Iwobi 26 matches away from equalling that benchmark.
The 30-year-old has already established himself as Nigeria’s leading Premier League appearance-maker, surpassing Shola Ameobi’s previous record of 298 appearances in October 2025.
Iwobi’s 327 appearances comprise 100 for Arsenal, 123 for Everton and 104 for Fulham.
He has also accumulated 22,824 Premier League minutes, another Nigerian record according to statistics.
The midfielder previously expressed pride in surpassing some of Nigeria’s most celebrated Premier League players.
“It’s amazing. It’s a big achievement to lead that, with the likes of Shola Ameobi and even my uncle [Jay-Jay Okocha], who participated in the Premier League,” Iwobi said after reaching 300 appearances.
“It’s an honour, but I’m not done yet, I’m going to keep on going and hopefully keep the record going.”
Saturday’s encounter offers Iwobi another opportunity to strengthen his Premier League legacy while facing the manager he credits with reviving his career at Everton.
