– Says he is disappointed with the AFCON debacle
Ahead of the forthcoming Olympic games billed for Rio, Brazil between August 5 and 21, 2016, Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi has indicated his interest to be part of the Nigerian football team at the tournament.
Coach Samson Siasia had earlier invited the Arsenal forward to the Nigerian u-23 team, but Iwobi could not take part due to his past with the English youth teams.
The 19-year-old eventually settled for Nigeria after so much tussle between his country of birth and England.
Iwobi committed his future to Nigeria when he made his competitive international debut in the disappointing defeat to Egypt in the AFCON qualifiers.
“It was a massive disappointment for the team that we did not qualify for the forthcoming Africa Cup Nations,” Iwobi said.
“The coaches and players worked so hard to gain the ticket but it’s a shame we didn’t get through. We conceded a late goal in Kaduna and unfortunately we were unable to convert our chances in the second leg in Egypt.”
Iwobi also disclosed that the playing at the Olympics would be a dream come true and he is hoping to be part of Dream team VI at the tournament.
“I am looking forward to the forthcoming Olympics and if I am invited, I will do my best to make a meaningful contribution,” he said.
“I believe that Nigeria has a crop of excellent players who are capable of doing great things at the Olympics. Coach Samson Siasia deserves a lot of praise for securing a place for the nation at the Olympics.
“I do not have any regrets whatsoever in opting to play for Nigeria and will always do my best whenever I put on the green white green colours of Nigeria.
“I hope to be involved in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers too. I am very grateful to my team mates, the Nigeria Football Federation, coaches, the press and fans for the warm welcome I received following my decision to come home.
“Nigeria is a great footballing nation and deserves to assume her rightful place in Africa and world football and I am keen to be part of a team that achieves this goal,” Iwobi concluded
Meanwhile, Alex Iwobi has agreed a new long-term Arsenal deal keeping him at the club tripling his wages and keeping him at the club until 2021, The Mirror (UK) reports.
Iwobi would now earn £30,000 a week times three of his £10,000-a-week deal at the Emirates stadium outfit