Iwobi ‘desperate’ to match Jay-Jay Okocha’s legacy
Alex Iwobi has revealed his deep-rooted connection to football legends, from being cradled by Ronaldinho as a baby to being the nephew of Nigerian icon Jay-Jay Okocha, and is now determined to carve out a legacy of his own by lifting a major international trophy.
The 29-year-old Fulham star, speaking to SunSport, disclosed that his mother told him he was once held by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho during his PSG days, when the Ballon d’Or winner shared a dressing room with Okocha.
“I said to my mum, ‘I see Ronaldinho.’ And she was like, ‘You know that he held you as a baby when he played for PSG with your uncle [Okocha]?’” Iwobi recounted. “She even showed me a picture.”
Okocha and Ronaldinho played together at PSG during the 2001-02 season before the Nigerian moved to Bolton, where he made his mark as a Premier League cult hero.
Iwobi, born in 1996, grew up watching his uncle’s flamboyant style and now maintains a close relationship with him, though their conversations rarely touch on football tactics.
“Uncle hardly talks about football. He just checks on my well-being. He always tells me to enjoy the game, smile, and express myself like he did.”
With Nigeria falling just short at the last Africa Cup of Nations, losing in the final to hosts Ivory Coast after beating them in the group stage, Iwobi is laser-focused on redemption when the 2025 AFCON kicks off in Morocco on January 18.
“Last year, we were so close. This time we want to win it. We believe we have the squad to do it,” he said.
Victory at AFCON would see Iwobi match Okocha’s 1994 continental title and give him bragging rights in the family.
It would also mark a high point in what could be a grueling 2025-26 season, where the Nigerian international is potentially set to play up to 60 games across club and country.
