Revealed: The key role African football icon Jay-Jay Okocha played in influencing his Premier League star nephew to play for Nigeria instead of England

Football icon Jay-Jay Okocha played a key part in convincing his nephew, a Premier League star, to play for Nigeria over England.

Okocha, known for his incredible flair, played 73 times for Nigeria.

After playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Okocha had a spell at Bolton Wanderers between 2002 and 2006. He later returned to English football with Hull City. 

Okocha was part of the Nigeria side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994.

In addition, he was involved as Nigeria won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. 

Fulham star Alex Iwobi revealed that his uncle Okocha influenced his decision to represent Nigeria instead of England.

Iwobi was born in Nigeria but moved to England at a young age and joined Arsenal's academy.

He represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 levels but then chose to play for Nigeria and made his senior international debut in 2015.

Iwobi has now made 78 appearances for Nigeria and has scored ten goals. 

The 28-year-old, who can play as a winger or a midfielder, featured as Nigeria finished as runners-up to Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Iwobi says a visit to Lagos, where he was born, persuaded him to play for Nigeria after he saw Okocha's popularity.

Speaking to Arsenal TV in 2018, Iwobi said: 'I went over there to see what it's like and the way they described my uncle. Wow, he's a legend.

'Even when we were just walking around with him and in the car, the acknowledgement he gets from everyone... I thought, 'Wow, maybe one day I would like to feel like that as well'.

'He influenced me without even talking to me about it.'

Iwobi played 149 senior games for Arsenal and scored 15 goals prior to joining Everton in 2019.

He made another move last summer as he signed for Fulham. So far this season he has played 31 games in all competitions and has scored six goals.