Alex Iwobi’s father, Chuba, has denied reports claiming his son was “intentionally poisoned”, ahead of his competitive debut for the Super Eagles in March this year.
The Arsenal player was the subject of a tussle between Nigeria and England, but showed up at the Kaduna camp of the Eagles.
The 20-year-old was later rushed to the hospital with food poisoning concern, but recovered to play in a 2017 AFCON qualifier against Egypt.
On Saturday, after a pre-season friendly between Arsenal and Viking FK, Iwobi reportedly told told Usman Sale, that he was “deliberately” poisoned.
“I exchanged jerseys with Iwobi after the game, we discussed about life and Nigeria,” Sale was quoted by online sports site, allnigeriasoccer.com.
“He said some people deliberately tampered with his food while he was in Nigeria for the Egypt game, and he was rushed to the hospital.”
But Iwobi’s father has debunked such claims and said his son never made the statement.
“Alex made it clear to me that he did not say anything about his food being poisoned to the Nigerian Viking player,” Chuka Iwobi said in a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“To quote Alex – ‘We only swapped jersey took pictures [and] he said he is Nigerian, we didn’t talk anything about food.’
“I was in Nigeria at the time when Alex had the stomach upset and Alex told me in Nigeria that he reacted to something he ate and he made no allegation of foul play.
“This is total mischief making and I do not know the source.”
