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Football: Fulham attacker Alex Iwobi sets new Premier League record for Nigerian players

by Devesh Jaganath

image Football: Fulham attacker Alex Iwobi sets new Premier League record for Nigerian players
From the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha to the sturdy John Obi Mikel, the Premier League has been home to some of Nigeria’s greatest footballers over the years. The latest Super Eagle to leave his mark on the English top flight is Alex Iwobi, who is now the most capped Nigerian player in the league’s history.

Alex Iwobi becomes most capped Nigerian in Premier League history

Many of Nigeria’s greatest footballers shot to stardom by making their mark in the most-watched football league in the world, the Premier League, but Alex Iwobi now stands above the rest, having taken top spot in the all-time list for appearances by a Nigerian player. 

The Fulham attacker etched his name in the history books a couple of weeks ago at Craven Cottage against Arsenal. While the match ended in defeat for Iwobi and co, it was still a massive moment in the career of the 28-year-old Cottager.

Iwobi, who played the full 90 minutes against the Gunners, notched up his 299th Prem appearance and, in doing so, surpassed former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi's previous record of 298. 

Barring the result, it was arguably the perfect way for Iwobi to bring up his incredible achievement, as it came against the very team that handed him his debut in England’s top flight almost a decade ago, versus Swansea City. Speaking to the media after the match, Iwobi said: 

"It’s amazing. It’s a big achievement to lead that, with the likes of Shola Ameobi and even my uncle (Jay-Jay Okocha) that’s participated in the Premier League. It’s an honour, but I’m not done yet, I’m going to keep on going and hopefully keep the record going."

Iwobi went on to record his 300th Premier League appearance last week in Fulham’s 2-1 defeat to the Magpies, but he scored a crucial penalty in a shootout against Wycombe in midweek to help the Cottagers book their spot in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup​​​​​​. 

The Nigerian attacker will likely move to 301 league appearances this weekend, when Marco Silva’s side play host to Premier League basement club Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon. 

 

Top 5 Nigerian footballers by Premier League appearances 

nwankwo_kanu

Over the past 10 years, Iwobi has played for three clubs in the Premier League, Arsenal, Everton and Fulham, and at just 28 years of age, he likely still has the best part of the next decade to add to his incredible record. 

  1. Alex Iwobi - 300 appearances
  2. Shola Ameobi - 298 appearances
  3. Nwankwo Kanu - 273 appearances
  4. Yakubu Aiyegbeni - 252 appearances
  5. John Obi Mikel - 249 appearances

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