Proud Father Backs Iwobi as AFCON Star Shines

Alex Iwobi has been one of Nigeria’s standout players at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, with his father Chuba Iwobi present to cheer him on. The Fulham midfielder, nephew of Super Eagles legend Jay-Jay Okocha, is now a senior figure with 93 caps, behind only Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa.

Born in Nigeria but raised in England, Iwobi played youth football for England before choosing the Super Eagles in 2015.

Reflecting on his son’s rise, Chuba said, “I've been supporting Alex since he was young… in terms of how far he would go, I had no clue,” adding he is “proud of his achievements so far… and… there's more to come.” He also spoke about Okocha’s impact, noting that “Uncle Jay-Jay has been sort of an inspiration to him… and Jay-Jay has always been there for him,” while stressing Alex “has his own style of play.”

On comparisons, Chuba said football demands mental strength, explaining, “There were times he's been told he wasn't as good as his uncle… but not everyone can be as good as Jay-Jay.” He added that Alex’s “over 300 appearances in the Premier League… and about 93 in the national team” prove his value, saying he “always gives his best for the country.”

Iwobi is now 18 games from becoming Nigeria’s most-capped player and is focused on winning AFCON 2025.