Nigeria and Everton player, Alex Iwobi, talks about the scaring experience while on international duty back in November, discovering the power of his voice, the factors motivating him to improve every day, and where Carlo Ancelotti’s team need to get better.
Close to two months after a difficult 4-4 score line against Sierra Leone in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Benin-Nigeria, utility player, Alex Iwobi has opened up on what went down.
Iwobi, who has played more than 40 games for Nigeria and grown familiar with the country’s feverish football public, said it was a mad, terrifying evening for all.
“I can’t even tell you what happened in the game, I don’t know, it was mad,” says Iwobi.
“There was a lot of heated discussion in the changing room. The Nigerian Football President came in and said a few words. He was hurt, like all of us. Trying to go back to the hotel, people were throwing stones at our bus. One cracked a window and hit a player. It was crazy.”
Nigeria are all but assured of their place in the 2022 finals but that didn’t spare Iwobi and his mates the wrath of the natives.
“They are proper passionate. I see where they were coming from, the result was hurtful but we were almost physically hurt because of it!”
Iwobi confesses Nigeria’s international footballers are – for the most part – treated like kings in their homeland. He accepts the other side of that deal, then – and is grateful to represent people who care so deeply.
He further explain what motivates him when he goes to work in the morning.
“Every day I try to prove to myself I should be here, that I should be playing for Everton,” starts Iwobi.
“That I should be in the starting XI. That I should be representing my country.
“I always have that motivation especially because of what my family went through for me to get where I am.”
“It gives me that hunger to improve myself and I work every day to try to do that.
“I had a lot of downs growing up. Moments when I was told I wasn’t good enough, times when I was almost released by Arsenal.
“I want to fight for not just me but the hundreds of thousands of Evertonians and the people who follow and support me.
“I feel I owe it to them to give 100 per cent every day.
“And I always want to do well for my family.
“Everything I do is for them.”
