International Football
THROUGH ALEX IWOBI, NIGERIA BACK AT EVERTON, 70 YEARS LATER
It was on the training ground of Everton FC that Nigeria’s national team first trained on a foreign soil in 1949.
Sports
Village Square recalls that it was also on the same ground that the team took
what is easily the first official group photograph on August 31, 1949.
Seventy years on, another Nigerian national team player, Alex Iwobi goes to Everton ground as the sixth Nigerian for Everton, which beat the deadline to make him the seventh signing of a productive summer transfer window on Thursday.
Before
Iwobi, there had been Daniel Amokachi at Everton. He was part of the FA Cup
winning side in 1995.
He played six times for the club and scored two goals in seasons 1994-95. There was also Victor Anichebe who played 10 matches for Everton in the seasons 2008 to 2011.
Yakubu Ayegbeni also featured for Everton from 2008 to 2010 and played 24 matches and scored seven goals. Henry Onyekuru also made a cameo appearance for Everton this year.
But the Nigerian with most matches for Everton is Joseph Yobo who had 55 matches for Everton from 2008 to 2011.
The latest Nigerian in Everton is Iwobi. Born in Lagos, Alex Iwobi moved to England at the age of four and spent his formative years in the east London borough of Newham, home to Premier League regulars West Ham United.
However, it was cross-city Arsenal who spotted the youngster’s early footballing promise and, in 2004, signed him up as an eight-year-old to their Hale End academy.
Cultivating a reputation as an
offensive-minded player who could make things happen but also work hard for his
team, Iwobi progressed through the Arsenal ranks to earn his first-team debut
in an October 2015 League Cup last-16 match against Sheffield Wednesday at the
age of 19.
The nephew of Jay-Jay Okocha, the early suggestions were that the young Iwobi
had dutifully studied his idolised uncle, his game – like Okocha’s – being
based on flair, skill and an abundance of natural ability.
Iwobi made his Premier League debut as a late substitute against Swansea City
four days later and would go on to amass another four appearances off the bench
before netting on his first top-flight start in March the following year – a
2-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
His eye-catching performance on Merseyside that afternoon proved the catalyst
to him starting all but one of Arsenal’s remaining eight league fixtures –
adding another goal, against Watford, and two assists – as the Gunners
overhauled north London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur to claim second place in
the Premier League behind shock 5000-1 winners Leicester City.
Having won the Victory Shield with England in 2011 and represented the Three
Lions at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 levels, Iwobi’s form saw him handed
his first competitive senior appearance for Nigeria at the end of the 2015/16
campaign, the forward’s switch of allegiance to the Super Eagles already having
been signified by his involvement in a friendly against DR Congo the previous
October.
Like on his first Premier League start for Arsenal, he
marked the occasion with a goal as Nigeria defeated Zambia 2-1 in a 2018 World
Cup qualifier. He was named in Nigeria’s provisional 35-man squad for the
Olympic Games that summer but did not feature in the final 18-man party.
Iwobi quickly shelved that disappointment and was picked for Arsenal’s opening
game of the 2016/17 season against Liverpool, providing an assist for Theo
Walcott in an eventual 4-3 defeat for the Londoners.
Despite sustaining a thigh injury that kept him out of the Gunners’ following
two league fixtures, he was quickly reinstated by boss Arsene Wenger and went
on to make 27 starts in a campaign that yielded 39 run-outs in all
competitions, four goals, eight assists and an FA Cup winners’ medal. After
featuring in early round wins over Preston North End, Southampton and Sutton
United, Iwobi was selected in Arsenal’s squad for their 2-1 Wembley victory
over Chelsea in the final.
A notable breakthrough campaign also included another international goal
against Zambia in October, on this occasion Iwobi’s cool, sweeping finish
proving enough to inflict a 1-0 defeat on Nigeria’s opponents but, more
importantly, seal the country’s place at the following summer’s World Cup
finals in Russia.
Iwobi and Arsenal were back at Wembley to face Chelsea in the Community Shield
ahead of the 2017/18 campaign and this time there was a starting role for the
youngster as the Gunners overcame their capital city rivals on penalties
following a 1-1 draw.
That triggered another profitable season in 2017/18, Iwobi adding a further 39
appearances, three goals and seven assists as Wenger’s 22nd and final campaign
at the Arsenal helm ended in a sixth-placed Premier League finish and League
Cup final loss to Manchester City in which the forward came off the bench for
the final 17 minutes.
Having led his nation to Russia, Iwobi featured in all three of Nigeria’s World
Cup group matches in the summer of 2018 but defeats against Argentina and
eventual finalists Croatia proved fatal as the Super Eagles failed to qualify
for the knockout stages.
Unrattled by the blow, Iwobi returned to Arsenal and enjoyed his most
productive goals coring season to date last term, kicking it off by applying a
clinical finish to a flowing, 18-pass team move in a 3-2 opening weekend loss
against old foes Chelsea.
It was against the same opposition that his sixth and final goal of 2018/19
came 10 months on, albeit against the backdrop of Arsenal’s crushing 4-1 Europa
League final defeat in Baku.
Nevertheless, a fruitful campaign also saw the improving Iwobi add a further 51
Arsenal appearances to his tally, while his record of nine assists was bettered
only by France international forward Alexandre Lacazette.
It means the Everton-bound Iwobi leaves the Emirates having contributed 15
goals and 27 assists in 149 games. Of those, he started a hefty 103.
And Iwobi’s impact at international level continues to be felt, too. An
integral figure as Nigeria finished third in the Africa Cup of Nations last
month, he notched the winner to settle a thrilling five-goal contest against Cameroon
in the last-16 – his sixth international goal.
The Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory over Tunisia in the
third-place play-off saw Iwobi collect his 36th cap at the age of just 23.
Everton had to bide their time in their pursuit of Iwobi but beat the transfer
deadline to land their man on Thursday evening, tying him to a five-year deal
until the summer of 2024.
He became the Blues’ seventh summer acquisition, reuniting with former colleague Walcott, but was not registered in time to be eligible for Saturday’s Premier League opener at Crystal Palace.
Soccer chiefs from Europe and South America will hold a final meeting before a Thursday deadline to decide whether and where this month’s “Finalissima” between Spain and Argentina will be played, with London emerging as the leading candidate after doubts over Doha, multiple sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The match between European champions Spain and Copa America holders Argentina had been scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
However, it has become increasingly unlikely that Qatar will host the fixture after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) has been pushing for a swift resolution, mindful that the March international break is viewed as vital preparation ahead of the June-July World Cup in North America.
“I know that negotiations are underway,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Spanish Public Radio (RNE) on Monday. “The first thing, as a society, is to stop the conflict, but once you are immersed in it and you don’t know how long it will last, the solution would be, as long as you can’t play there, to find another venue as soon as possible.
Wembley Stadium staged the previous edition in 2022, when Argentina beat Italy, but it is set to host England v Uruguay on March 27. London, however, has other stadiums capable of staging the showpiece, leaving the English capital as the most likely alternative should Doha be ruled out, sources confirmed.
ALTERNATIVE OPPONENTS CONSIDERED
While keen to face Argentina and high-profile players such as Lionel Messi, sources told Reuters that Spain had made clear their priority was not to waste the last window of international fixtures before the World Cup and they were already contemplating alternative opponents.
With Spain also due to face Egypt three days later, any change would require agreement between the RFEF and European soccer body UEFA, South American confederation CONMEBOL, global governing body FIFA and the Argentine FA (AFA).
The RFEF, AFA and UEFA did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
A spokesperson for South American confederation CONMEBOL told Reuters that several meetings between the parties had taken place in recent days but did not confirm Thursday’s deadline or London as the preferred venue.
Madrid was initially proposed by the RFEF but rejected by the AFA, who preferred a neutral venue rather than giving Spain home advantage.
Morocco offered to stage the game, but the RFEF was unwilling to back their Mediterranean neighbours amid tensions behind the scenes over the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will co-host. Both Spain and Morocco are campaigning to stage the final.
Miami was also considered, with Messi based there at Inter Miami, but Hard Rock Stadium is hosting the Miami Open tennis tournament at the same time.
-Reuters
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International Football
Spain-Argentina ‘Finalissima’ in Qatar at risk amid US, Israel attacks on Iran
The match between Spain and Argentina, tagged “Finalissima” in Doha, is in doubt after the Qatar Football Association suspended soccer tournaments indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory missiles fired at the Arabian Peninsula.
The contest between European Championship winners Spain and Copa America champions Argentina was scheduled for March 27 at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, with potential big-name draws including Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” the association said in a statement on Sunday.
“The new dates for the resumption of competitions will be announced in due course through the Association’s official channels.”
The final call on whether to postpone the game rests with event organisers UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The Bahrain Football Association postponed all its matches until further notice, while the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday announced it was delaying Champions League Elite fixtures in the region.
The Asian Champions League Two, currently at the quarter-final stage, has also been impacted, along with games in the Challenge League.
Countries across the Middle East have been on high alert since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capability.
Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. targets around the region, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Sunday, Qatar’s interior ministry reported a fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.
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International Football
Iran Conflict Casts Uncertainty Over Super Eagles’ Four-Nation Tournament Opener
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may face fresh uncertainty ahead of their scheduled participation in a Four-Nation Invitational Tournament in Amman, Jordan, following reports that Iran — their intended first opponents — is now at war after attacks by the United States and Israel.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier confirmed that the Super Eagles would compete in the mini-tournament during the FIFA Men’s International Window in March 2026. The competition is slated to run from March 27 to 31 in the Jordanian capital.
Under the original fixture schedule, Nigeria were due to open the tournament on Friday, March 27 against Iran’s senior national team at the 17,000-capacity Amman International Stadium. Hosts Jordan were set to face Costa Rica the same day at the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
However, the escalating military confrontation involving Iran has cast serious doubt over the participation of the Iranian national team and the viability of the opening fixture.
While tournament organisers in Jordan have yet to issue an official statement regarding possible changes, the developing security situation is expected to force urgent consultations between the participating federations, tournament organisers and FIFA.
The competition was designed to provide competitive match exposure during a window initially reserved for the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria’s inclusion in the tournament had already generated debate at home, with observers questioning whether the NFF’s commitment signalled a shift in focus away from potential qualification disputes.
The new geopolitical crisis further complicates matters. International conflicts often trigger travel restrictions, airspace closures and security advisories that can directly affect national teams’ ability to assemble and travel.
Should Iran withdraw or be unable to participate, organisers may be compelled to seek a replacement team or adjust the fixture format entirely.
Nigeria are scheduled to face hosts Jordan on March 31 in their second match of the tournament, while Costa Rica and Iran were originally billed to meet the same day at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Kick-off times for the four fixtures had yet to be officially announced before the outbreak of hostilities.
For the Super Eagles, the tournament was seen as an opportunity to build cohesion and test tactical adjustments ahead of future competitive engagements. Now, attention will turn to whether the event can proceed as planned — and whether Nigeria’s opening match will require a late reshuffle.
The NFF is expected to monitor developments closely and may issue further clarification in the coming days as the regional and international situation evolves.
Meanwhile, Reuters has quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead. But the Iranians have dismissed the claim, saying that the leader is ‘firmly commanding the field’. Both Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran.
President Donald Trump says action will give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers. Hits were reported in Israel and Gulf states as Iran retaliated. The attack has triggered fear and panics as as Iranians flee cities.
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