Alex Iwobi, who scored for Fulham in their recent draw against Everton, refrained from celebrating, reflecting his commitment to the team. Together with teammate Calvin Bassey, Iwobi spoke on how competing with Nigeria’s Super Eagles on an international stage, like the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast, can attract more foreign-born, Nigeria-eligible talents to the national team.

Both Iwobi and Bassey, who represented Nigeria in all seven of the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2023 matches and reached the final, could have opted for other national teams but chose to honour their Nigerian heritage. Iwobi explained that performing well and winning trophies is a way to draw in more Nigerian talent from around the world. “If we keep progressing and win competitions, it’ll attract players not just in England, but also in Spain and Germany,” he told Sky Sports.

Bassey echoed this sentiment, adding that the overwhelming support from Nigerians reinforces his connection to his roots. He encourages other players with Nigerian heritage to explore their backgrounds, even if they don’t necessarily play for the Super Eagles. “Whenever I go back, it’s always a different connection. It encourages people to know more about their roots,” said Bassey.

Both players, key to Fulham’s lineup this season under Marco Silva, have contributed to Fulham’s current position in 10th place in the English Premier League.