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Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong says Alex Iwobi is on track to become Nigeria’s most capped footballer, insisting the Fulham midfielder has the capacity to rewrite the national team’s record books.
Iwobi earned his 90th cap in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Gabon, bringing him within touching distance of Ahmed Musa’s record of 112 international appearances.
The 28-year-old made his Nigeria debut in October 2015 against DR Congo, just weeks before featuring for Arsenal’s first team under Arsène Wenger.
Praise for a ‘special player’
Speaking to reporters in Rabat on Saturday, Troost-Ekong described Iwobi as a standout figure whose contributions often fly under the radar.
“For me, he’s a really special player and someone who has become a close friend,” Troost-Ekong said. “To reach 90 caps is really special. From the first time I saw him, before he even made his Arsenal debut, he was a big talent.”
Recall Iwobi recently became the first Nigerian to reach 300 Premier League appearances, keeping his status as one of the country’s most durable and consistent performers in Europe’s top leagues.
Record-breaking trajectory
Troost-Ekong believes Iwobi’s achievements, both for club and country, means that more successes are ahead.
“For him to be the Nigerian player with the most Premier League appearances is something special,” the defender noted. “He’s set to break all the records we have here in the coming years. He’s grown into a mature player and a key leader in our team.”
He also credited Iwobi for influencing the wave of Europe-born talents committing to Nigeria.
“When you talk about the ‘innit boys,’ Alex is definitely the leader of that group,” he added.
Eyes on World Cup and AFCON success
Troost-Ekong added that Iwobi remains driven by team achievements, not just personal records.
“I’m hoping he’ll end up breaking all the records, but I know he’s focused on getting back to the World Cup and trying to win AFCON too. That would crown this generation.”
The Super Eagles continue preparations in Rabat ahead of Sunday’s 2026 World Cup playoff final against DR Congo.