Fulham playmaker Alex Iwobi has offered high praise for newcomers Emmanuel Fernandez and Chibuike Nwaiwu after the defensive pair made their international bows for Nigeria. The two center-backs were introduced as second-half substitutes during the Super Eagles’ 2-1 friendly triumph over Iran, a match contested this past March in Antalya, Turkey.
The victory for Eric Chelle’s side was secured through clinical finishes from Akor Adams and Moses Simon. Reflecting on the team’s performance and the integration of fresh talent during a guest appearance on the Alexander Yaa Digg podcast, Iwobi highlighted the significance of the result and the individual contributions of the debutants.
“Nice to get the win. Credit to Iran—they’re a good, solid team,” Iwobi remarked while evaluating the opposition’s resilience. “Credit to us, we got the two goals we needed. Shout out to the two centre-backs who played the second half on their debuts. They did well—they did solid. It was a good performance. We won, and that gives us a confidence boost.”
The successful introduction of Fernandez and Nwaiwu into the senior national setup comes at a pivotal time for the Super Eagles as they continue to refine their defensive options. Iwobi’s public endorsement underscores a positive atmosphere within the camp following a successful international window, as the team looks to build on this momentum for upcoming competitive fixtures.
