Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has opened up about his controversial 2021 Instagram post, admitting he handled the situation immaturely during a difficult period at Everton.
The then-25-year-old sparked debate when he shared a pointed message after being called up for Nigeria’s 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho. His post read: “Always an honour to get a call up to my national team. Hopefully I get to play in my preferred position.”
At the time, Iwobi was being deployed as a wing-back under Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti—a role he felt stifled his natural creativity. In a candid interview with Inside Scoop, the now-28-year-old Fulham midfielder acknowledged his frustration stemmed from limited playing time and being played out of position.
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“Looking back, I was just frustrated—I wasn’t playing much, and when I did, it wasn’t in my best role,” Iwobi admitted. “I shouldn’t have aired that publicly. I could’ve handled it better.”
He contrasted his Everton struggles with the freedom he enjoyed in the Nigerian national team, where he typically operated in central midfield. “With Nigeria, I played where I love to—getting on the ball, dictating play. At Everton, I was often just recycling possession as a wing-back, and sometimes not even starting. Going to the national team was an escape where I knew I’d play 90 minutes.”
Alex Iwobi celebrates with teammates after scoring for Fulham( photo credit: Getty images)
Iwobi also revealed a telling exchange with Ancelotti after the post went viral. “He asked me, ‘Where do you want to play?’ I said number ten. He tried me there once against Burnley, but we lost, and he immediately moved me back to the wing.”
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The Arsenal academy graduate has since matured significantly, with his 2022-23 Everton campaign—where he won the Players’ Player of the Season award—marking his growth. Now a key figure for both Fulham and Nigeria, Iwobi’s reflections underscore how challenging periods can fuel development. “I’ve learned to channel frustrations differently,” he concluded. “That post was a young man’s reaction—today, I’d handle it privately.”
His journey serves as a reminder of the pressures footballers face when balancing club demands with national team aspirations—and how time and experience can transform perspective.
