Iwobi Cleared for Action in Boost for Super Eagles Friendlies

LONDON — Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has been cleared to return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury. Fulham manager Marco Silva confirmed the positive update ahead of the club’s final Premier League match of the season.

Iwobi had sustained the hamstring problem during a Premier League clash against Brentford in April. The injury raised concern about his availability for Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June.

Silva said Iwobi has resumed full training with the squad. “Alex is back. He trained well with the team and he is available. We are happy to have him back,” Silva said at his pre-match press conference.

Iwobi’s return is a significant boost for Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle. The midfielder is one of the Super Eagles’ most experienced players in midfield. His passing range, pressing intensity, and ability to link play between defence and attack make him difficult to replace.

June Friendlies on the Horizon

Nigeria faces Poland and Portugal in international friendlies in June as part of preparations for the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign. Both opponents are strong European nations. Poland is World Cup-bound. Portugal, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo on his record sixth World Cup appearance, is one of the tournament favourites.

However, Nigeria’s preparation has faced some setbacks. Canada recently called up three Nigeria-eligible players, dealing a further blow to the Super Eagles’ available pool. Brentford’s Michael Kayode has also reportedly decided his international future lies with another country.

Furthermore, exciting young forward Zadok Yohanna appears to have suffered a more serious injury than initially thought while playing in Sweden’s Allsvenskan. His status for the June window is doubtful. Chelle will need to find replacements from the wider player pool.

Troost-Ekong Reflects on World Cup Miss

Meanwhile, veteran defender William Troost-Ekong has spoken publicly about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He described the miss as deeply painful and said it was a key factor in his decision to retire from international football.

Troost-Ekong said the team gave everything but acknowledged that they were not good enough in the critical qualifying matches. He urged his successors to learn from the experience and use the hurt as motivation for the AFCON 2027 campaign.

Victor Osimhen was seen in Lagos cruising in a luxury Lamborghini valued at N810 million hours after suffering a fractured arm in a Champions League match with Galatasaray against Liverpool. His arm injury casts doubt over his availability for the June internationals. The NFF is monitoring his recovery closely.