NFF hails Iwobi as he ties Salah for 2nd most African Premier League appearances

Alex Iwobi has joined Mohamed Salah as the joint-second most-featured African player in Premier League history with 328 appearances, hitting the milestone during Fulham's 1-0 win over Coventry City on Saturday (Oct 24). The 30-year-old midfielder, who started at Arsenal before moving through Everton to Fulham, now trails only former Ivorian defender Kolo Touré's all-time African record of 353 matches across Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

The Nigeria Football Federation celebrated the achievement through acting General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, who expressed hope that Iwobi will soon claim the outright African appearance record. Iwobi needs 26 more games to equal Touré—a feasible target given his consistent role in Fulham's lineup.

This milestone reinforces Nigerian representation at the highest level of English football. Beyond individual glory, it highlights the sustained presence of Nigerian talent in the Premier League's most competitive era. For context, Iwobi's 328 appearances span three clubs over 11 seasons, averaging nearly 30 games per campaign.

With Fulham established in mid-table and Iwobi a regular starter at 30, the record is genuinely within reach this season or early next. Will he become the first Nigerian to hold the outright African Premier League appearances record, cementing his place alongside Touré and Salah in the league's history books?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/25/nff-salutes-iwobi-on-record-premier-league-appearances/