Alexander Chuka Iwobi was born in Lagos on May 3, 1996, and from the very beginning, his football identity was shaped by two worlds — England, where he grew up, and Nigeria, the land of his roots.

After representing England at youth level, Iwobi made one of the most significant decisions of his career in 2015: he committed his international future to the Super Eagles, choosing to follow a path deeply tied to his Nigerian heritage.

The Okocha connection

Central to that decision was his family — and in particular, his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha, widely regarded as one of the greatest players Nigeria has ever produced. Growing up in the shadow of such a towering footballing figure inevitably drew Iwobi closer to the green and white of the Super Eagles.

A debut to remember

Iwobi wasted little time making his mark at senior level. On October 8, 2015, at just 19 years old, he pulled on the Super Eagles jersey for the first time in a match against Democratic Republic Congo. The debut marked the beginning of a committed international career under the Nigerian flag.

The Complete Sports Nigeria Sports Planet podcast, Episode 126, dives into Iwobi's story — from his Lagos birthplace and his youth career in England to the moment he declared for Nigeria and stepped onto the senior international stage.