‘We have Lookman and Osimhen’: Iwobi backs Nigeria’s World Cup dream
Alex Iwobi is dreaming big, and he’s not alone. With the FIFA World Cup looming on the horizon, the Nigerian midfielder is determined to lead the Super Eagles back to football’s grandest stage.
If successful, it would mark his second appearance at the Finals and Nigeria’s first since their 2018 campaign, where Iwobi featured in all three group-stage matches before the team bowed out early.
The journey to the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been anything but smooth for Nigeria.
The early stages of qualifying were marred by instability, with two coaches exiting amid turbulent performances. But Éric Chelle’s arrival brought calm and clarity, guiding the squad into November’s crucial CAF playoffs.
Nigeria now faces a high stakes showdown alongside Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon. Only one of these four nations will earn the right to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with hopes of joining the nine African teams already qualified for the Finals.
Iwobi, speaking candidly in an interview with CNN, didn’t mince words: ‘We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead. It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it to the World Cup.’
His confidence is rooted in the talent surrounding him.
‘We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world,’ he said. ‘We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen).’
