Speaking on SuperSport Football on Thursday, the 29-year-old opened up about the emotional strain of the qualification battle and the difficult choice the squad could face between continental glory and a place at football’s biggest tournament.

When asked whether Nigeria would trade an Africa Cup of Nations title for World Cup qualification, Iwobi admitted it was a complex decision shaped by the differing experiences within the squad.

He said, “I mean, we’re still waiting, hopefully we can go to the World Cup.

“But I feel it’s a tough one. It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have, like in your career, a memorable moment.

“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one.”

Iwobi, who featured for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, said many of his teammates are driven by a strong desire to experience the global stage for the first time, a factor that continues to influence the squad’s mindset.

His comments come after Nigeria’s disappointing outing at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where the Super Eagles exited the tournament before reaching the final between December 2025 and January 2026.

Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign suffered another setback following a 1-1 draw with DR Congo in the playoff final in Rabat. The Leopards progressed after winning 4-3 on penalties, securing a spot in the inter confederation playoffs scheduled for March 2026.

In response, the Nigeria Football Federation submitted a formal protest to FIFA, alleging that several DR Congo players were ineligible under existing regulations.

DR Congo’s football authorities have dismissed the claims, insisting that all players were cleared by FIFA and calling for the result to be respected.

As of late January, FIFA was still reviewing the petition, leaving Nigerian fans clinging to the possibility that a favourable ruling could revive the Super Eagles’ World Cup dream.