Iwobi on course to surpass EPL appearances by Chelsea's first African player this season

Published: April 30, 2022

Everton winger Alex Iwobi is set to overtake Chelsea's first African player in history, Celestine Babayaro in the number of Premier League appearances made by Nigerian players before the end of the 2021-2022 season.

1996 Olympic champion with the original Dream Team, Babayaro played 179 matches combined for Chelsea and Newcastle United, with 132 in the colours of the Blues and 47 wearing the jersey of the Magpies.

Providing there are no last-minute surprises, Iwobi will play his 178th game in the Premier League in Sunday afternoon's clash between Everton and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Super Eagle has to play three more matches this season to surpass Babayaro's Premier League appearances, something that is feasible given that Frank Lampard's team has six games to contest.

The Hale End Academy product was able to reach a century of appearances before departing Arsenal in 2019 and has racked up 77 games for the Toffees.

Iwobi and Babayaro are in the top ten Nigerian players with the most appearances in the Premier League, with the left-back ranked eighth and the winger behind in ninth.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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