Arsenal star, Iwobi, suffers food poisoning in Eagles camp

Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia confirmed that Arsenal midfielder, Alex Iwobi, is down with food poisoning.

Iwobi, 19, was the first foreign-based player to arrive the Eagles camp on Sunday but he was surprisingly missing in action while his teammates had their first training session at the Abuja National stadium on Tuesday.

Earlier there was news waving that Arsenal starlet Alex Iwobi was missing in Nigeria’s training session on Tuesday morning in Abuja on speculations that he might be considering representing England instead.

Many had thought the youngster was developing cold feet at playing for Nigeria after reported renewed interests from England, but Siasia said he was down with food poisoning and had been taken to hospital after eating a salad with the rest of the squad.

“He suffered from food poisoning and so was not part of the training,” Siasia told a news conference. “But his condition is stable.”

Iwobi has so far played two friendlies for Nigeria, but has also starred for England in the Youth cadre.

He is expected to make his first competitive appearance for his native Nigeria in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt on Friday. That anticipated appearance now hangs in the balance. Iwobi has been in top form lately. On Saturday, he scored in his first Premier League start for the Gunners in a 2-0 victory at Everton.

It is believed Iwobi tactically withdrew from training to avoid featuring against the Pharaohs thereby making him permanently ineligible to play for Nigeria.

Having previously featured in two international friendly games, Nigeria are eager to give Iwobi his first competitive international cap in the double header against Egypt thus ending England interest.