Iwobi matches Salah on 328 Premier League games as NFF hails him
- Alex Iwobi played his 328th Premier League game in Fulham's 1-0 win at Coventry City on Saturday.
- That draws him level with Mohamed Salah as the joint-second most-capped African in the league's history.
- The NFF congratulated him and said it hopes he will soon hold the all-time African record.
Alex Iwobi has joined Mohamed Salah as the African player with the second-most Premier League appearances, after starting Fulham's 1-0 win at Coventry City on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Super Eagles midfielder now has 328 Premier League games to his name. Liverpool's Salah has the same number.
Only former Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, with 353 appearances for Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, has played more among African players.
Iwobi's 328 games break down as 100 for Arsenal, 123 for Everton and 104 for Fulham. That makes him Nigeria's most-capped Premier League player, ahead of Shola Ameobi on 298.
He can move clear of Salah into outright second when Fulham visit Aston Villa in their next league match.
NFF sends congratulations
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) congratulated Iwobi on the milestone. Its Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, said the federation hopes the midfielder will soon set a new African record.
"The NFF celebrates Alex Iwobi for this new achievement, and we wish him even greater glory. We will be very happy to see him become the African with the most Premier League appearances in the near future," Ikpeme said.Iwobi, who won his 100th cap for Nigeria in a friendly against Portugal in Leiria this year, has one silver and two bronze medals with the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Against Coventry, he played 73 minutes on the left wing before Cesar Palacios replaced him. He had 60 touches, completed 51 passes at 86.3 per cent accuracy, made two key passes and delivered three crosses. One of his shots was blocked from close range after Josh King's effort hit the bar.
Calvin Bassey also started for Fulham and helped keep a clean sheet. Coventry brought on Super Eagles pair Frank Onyeka and Taiwo Awoniyi in the second half under Frank Lampard.
Oscar Bobb scored the only goal in the 80th minute, beating a defender in a crowded box before firing into the bottom corner. The win gave Fulham back-to-back league victories for the first time this season and lifted them to 13th with eight points from eight games.
What happens next
Iwobi needs 25 more Premier League appearances to catch Toure's 353. Fulham's trip to Aston Villa is his first chance to pass Salah on the list.
