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Football icon Jay-Jay Okocha played a cardinal portion successful convincing his nephew, a Premier League star, to play for Nigeria complete England.
Okocha, known for his unthinkable flair, played 73 times for Nigeria.
After playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Okocha had a spell astatine Bolton Wanderers betwixt 2002 and 2006. He later returned to English shot pinch Hull City.
Okocha was portion of nan Nigeria broadside that won nan Africa Cup of Nations successful 1994.
In addition, he was progressive arsenic Nigeria won a golden badge astatine nan 1996 Olympics.
Jay-Jay Okocha convinced his nephew, a Premier League star, to play for Nigeria complete England
One of nan top African players of each time, Okocha was renowned for his flair
Fulham prima Alex Iwobi revealed that his uncle Okocha influenced his determination to correspond Nigeria alternatively of England.
Iwobi was calved successful Nigeria but moved to England astatine a young property and joined Arsenal's academy.
He represented England astatine Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 levels but past chose to play for Nigeria and made his elder world debut successful 2015.
Iwobi has now made 78 appearances for Nigeria and has scored 10 goals.
The 28-year-old, who tin play arsenic a winger aliases a midfielder, featured arsenic Nigeria vanished arsenic runners-up to Ivory Coast successful nan 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Iwobi says a sojourn to Lagos, wherever he was born, persuaded him to play for Nigeria aft he saw Okocha's popularity.
Speaking to Arsenal TV in 2018, Iwobi said: 'I went complete location to spot what it's for illustration and nan measurement they described my uncle. Wow, he's a legend.
'Even erstwhile we were conscionable stepping astir pinch him and successful nan car, nan acknowledgement he gets from everyone... I thought, 'Wow, possibly 1 time I would for illustration to consciousness for illustration that arsenic well'.
Okocha influenced Fulham prima Alex Iwobi's prime to play for England complete Nigeria
Ex-Arsenal prima Iwobi followed successful nan footsteps of his uncle Okocha by playing for Nigeria
Iwobi has played 78 times for Nigeria aft making his elder world debut successful 2015
Iwobi antecedently played for England astatine Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 levels
'He influenced maine without moreover talking to maine astir it.'
Iwobi played 149 elder games for Arsenal and scored 15 goals prior to joining Everton successful 2019.
He made different move past summertime arsenic he signed for Fulham. So acold this play he has played 31 games successful each competitions and has scored six goals.
