Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has moved up to second place on the list of Nigerians with the most Premier League appearances after featuring in Fulham’s 3-2 loss to West Ham United at the London Stadium on Tuesday night.
The 28-year-old now has 274 appearances in the English top flight, surpassing Nwankwo Kanu, the former Arsenal, Portsmouth, and West Bromwich Albion striker. Shola Ameobi, the former Newcastle United forward, still holds the record with 293 appearances.
Despite the defeat, Iwobi scored both of Fulham’s goals, taking his Premier League tally for the Cottagers to 12 goals in 51 appearances. Remarkably, Iwobi has now scored more league goals for Fulham than he did at either Arsenal (11 goals in 100 games) or Everton (six goals in 123 matches).
After the match, Fulham manager Marco Silva expressed his frustration with his team’s defensive mistakes, which he believed were responsible for the loss. “We are penalized by our own mistakes, and it’s clear it’s our fault that we lost the game. We created enough chances to have been in front, and West Ham weren’t near our box at all,” Silva told Sky Sports.
Iwobi’s seven league goals this season represent his best-ever return in a Premier League campaign. His overall tally of 29 goals has also moved him to seventh on the all-time list of Nigerian goalscorers in the competition’s history, ahead of Victor Anichebe (27) and Obafemi Martins (28).
Since making his Premier League debut for Arsenal in October 2015, Iwobi has established himself as one of the most consistent Nigerian players in the competition. His recent form has seen him become Fulham’s most influential attacking player this season, leading the team in goal contributions.
Fulham will look to bounce back from this setback when they face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
