Alex Iwobi has described Fulham’s team spirit as “one big brotherhood” and says the club’s success is allowing him to enjoy his “best season”.
The 28-year-old midfielder has already matched his best goal return in the Premier League, reaching last season’s tally of five goals with half of the campaign remaining.
The Nigeria international has been an ever-present in the league for the Whites and has also provided three assists for his team-mates.
“We’re really fighting for each other,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“You can see it on the pitch, but off the pitch what the cameras don’t catch is that we’re really one big brotherhood. It’s a nice environment, the chemistry is really good and I feel like that’s helping us get the results we need.”
Fulham are eighth in the table, three points behind fifth-placed Newcastle United, and are unbeaten in seven games.
Iwobi says Fulham boss Marco Silva has created a “sense of togetherness” that is empowering the squad and bringing out the best in him.
“I feel like [I am] just expressing myself a bit more,” said the former Arsenal and Everton man.
“The manager gives me that license and freedom to try and get into more goalscoring opportunities. Even if I make a mistake he says: ‘Alex, go again.’
“Having that confidence from him, [and] my team-mates backing me, it makes you feel almost unstoppable. You are willing to try and do anything on the pitch.”
The west Londoners have not finished higher than 10th in the Premier League since 2011-12, and Iwobi hopes to remain in contention for the European places.
“We have the players and I haven’t played in Europe in a long time, so it’s a dream I want to achieve again,” Iwobi added.
“We’re not scared of no-one. We’re confident that we can compete against anyone and take three points. The sky’s the limit.”
Going ‘to war’ with Super Eagles
Over the next few months Iwobi is also aiming to improve Nigeria’s fortunes in qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
The Super Eagles are winless after four games of the campaign and trail Group C leaders Rwanda by four points.
The West Africans travel to Kigali in the next round of fixtures in March, and Iwobi knows there is little margin for error given only the group winners will be assured of a place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“Everyone wants to experience the World Cup – it’s the best and biggest competition in the world,” he said.
“We know it’s not going to be easy because every team in Africa wants to qualify.
“It’s basically like going to war every game, but we’ll put up a fight and try and see what we can do. We’re all hungry and motivated.”
Nigeria have already booked their place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which begins in December, having finished as runners-up at the delayed 2023 edition played in Ivory Coast last year.
That success came under Jose Peseiro, but the Portuguese did not renew his contract with the Super Eagles after losing the final.
After Finidi George had a brief – and unsuccessful – stint in charge, Augustine Eguavoen took the reins on an interim basis and oversaw the most recent Afcon qualifiers.
Yet Iwobi says change in the dugout should not be blamed for the team’s slow start in World Cup preliminaries.
“We’ll never use it as an excuse because we can only hold ourselves accountable as players,” he said.
“No matter what manager comes into play, essentially it’s down to us as players to give 100%.
“We’ve got the quality, we all play in various high leagues across Europe. We have got to take accountability and get the points to qualify.”
BBC
