Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has pulled back the curtain on the less glamorous side of representing Nigeria, and the revelations will leave many Nigerians shaking their heads — but perhaps not entirely surprised.
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If you thought pulling on the green-and-white jersey of the Super Eagles was all glory, national pride, and VIP treatment, Alex Iwobi has some uncomfortable truths to share with you.
The experienced Fulham midfielder recently opened up about what it truly means to answer the call-up for Nigeria’s national team — and e no be small thing, as we say.
Players Are Paying Their Own Way
In a candid conversation that has since set Nigerian football Twitter ablaze, Iwobi revealed that Super Eagles players have, on several occasions, been left to book and pay for their own flights when called up for international duty. Yes, you read that correctly. These are professional footballers, some earning millions of naira worth of foreign currency every single week at their clubs, being asked to fund their own journeys to represent their country.
And that is not even where it ends.
Washing Their Own Kits? In 2024?
Iwobi also disclosed that players have had to wash their own training kits — a detail that, honestly, speaks volumes about the administrative challenges that have long plagued Nigerian football. At top European clubs, there are entire departments dedicated to kit management. Yet our Eagles, representing over 200 million Nigerians, are reportedly sorting out their own laundry.
“This Is What We Sign Up For”
To his credit, Iwobi did not come across as bitter or rebellious in his account. The former Arsenal man, who has been a consistent servant of Nigerian football despite holding a British passport and having the option to represent England, appears to have shared these experiences matter-of-factly — because to him, and many Eagles players, this has simply become normal.
And that, dear Nigerians, should bother all of us deeply.
A Tale We Have Heard Before
Let us be honest — this is not the first time we are hearing stories like this. Former Eagles stars have over the years dropped hints about unpaid allowances, poor facilities at camp, and disorganisation within the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). What makes Iwobi’s account sting a little more is how casual it sounds — like a man describing an old, familiar inconvenience rather than an outrage.
Remember, this is a player who trains with Premier League-standard facilities week in, week out. The contrast between his club experience and his national team experience could not be more stark.
What Does This Say About Nigerian Football Administration?
Nigeria has produced some of the most gifted footballers on the planet — from Jay-Jay Okocha to Nwankwo Kanu, from Mikel Obi to the current crop featuring Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze. Our talent is never in question. It is the structures around that talent that continue to let us down.
When players of Iwobi’s calibre are self-funding trips to represent their nation, it raises serious questions:
– Where is the money going? Nigeria’s football federation receives funding from FIFA, CAF, and government allocations. Logistics for player travel should be a basic, non-negotiable expense.
– How does this affect morale? If players feel unsupported, it can quietly erode the enthusiasm with which they answer call-ups — and who could blame them?
– What message does it send to younger players? Aspiring Eagles watching from the stands or their sitting rooms deserve to see a federation that treats its stars with dignity.
The Bigger Picture
Nigeria finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations — a performance that had the entire country on its feet and reminded us just how much this team means to our national identity. The Super Eagles have the quality. They have the hunger. What they deserve, and what they are clearly not always getting, is proper institutional support.
Alex Iwobi has done Nigerian football a favour by speaking openly. Now the question is: will those in positions of power at the NFF listen — or will this, like so many before it, simply fade into the noise?
One thing is certain — if Nigeria is serious about competing at the highest level of world football, it must start by treating its players like the professionals they are. From the flight booking to the kit room, every detail matters.
What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. 👇🦅
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