Two games within 72 hours: Iwobi says everyone is going to be needed not just the starting XI 

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says he wants to experience playing in the World Cup again and has vowed to give one hundred percent to ensure Nigeria qualify for the 2026 tournament holding in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Arsenal academy product was a bit-part player under Gernot Rohr at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he logged 64 minutes spread across three games. 

Having missed out on the 2022 World Cup, Iwobi stressed that the players want to bring joy to the Super Eagles supporters by qualifying for the 2026 edition, and also commented on how the first training session at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium went. 

Speaking at the end of training on Tuesday, Iwoi said: "I would like to be there again. It's not just me but the whole team we are going to put one hundred percent to make sure that we give a chance and an opportunity to bring the nation joy and that sense of pride that we're representing them at the World Cup hopefully again."

He added: "Today, it wasn't too intense. We are going to prepare for Lesotho, everyone has arrived in camp now so we have to be preparing like we did today, we go again tomorrow, and I'm sure we will analyze them and hopefully get the result we need to qualify."

The November window is tight with the Super Eagles facing Lesotho in Uyo on Thursday, before traveling to Rwanda for a matchday two fixture against Zimbabwe three days later. 

Iwobi reckons that manager Jose Pesiero has plenty of options for both games and will need to explore the depth of his squad. 

"Nigeria, it's a blessing that we have a lot of players, a lot of quality in the side so everyone is going to be needed, that's why it's a squad mentality not just the starting eleven," he concluded.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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