TheCable

Alex Iwobi, Arsenal FC and Super Eagles forward, says he is still amazed that he has started playing for the Nigerian senior team.

Speaking with TheCable on Thursday, Iwobi urged Nigerians to forget the inability of the team to qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations. Instead, he called for concentration on qualifying for Russia 2018.

Iwobi, who came on as a substitute in the last 2017 Nations Cup qualification match, which the Eagles lost in Egypt, stated that the FIFA World Cup is the biggest championship and that Nigeria surely must be there in 2018.

“We are such a big country, we believed we could do well but unfortunately we lost to Egypt. So, we were unable to qualify for the African Cup of Nations,” he said.

“Qualifying for the World Cup is the biggest one and everyone would want to participate in it.”

Iwobi told TheCable that he had not yet recovered from the pleasant surprise of been an integral part of the Super Eagles of Nigeria early in his career.

“I will love to be at the World Cup too but right now, playing for my national team, I am still amazed,” he said. “To play in the World Cup will be a great feeling… to be able to play among world class players.”

Iwobi made his Super Eagles debut on October 8, 2015, replacing Ahmed Musa in the 57th minute of a 2-0 friendly defeat to DR Congo in Vise, Belgium.

Since that game, he has earned five more international caps.

From 2011, Iwobi played regularly for the England Under 16, Under 17 and England Under 18 national teams before choosing Nigeria for the full national team.