Don’t expect much from Iwobi – Dombraye

Former  junior international  striker Eddy Dombraye has warned the Super Eagles  fans and the media  not to expect too much from  Alex Iwobi.

 The 19-year-old Arsenal player has made a surprisingly big contribution for the Premier League  giants since the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger overhauled his team and  handed him a starting role.

The attacking midfielder,  who scored his first senior goal against Everton on March 19, repaid Wenger’s faith with a beautiful goal in the Gunners’ 4-0 demolition of  Watford at the Emirates on Saturday.

 Iwobi has earned plenty of plaudits for his performances  since becoming an integral part of the Gunners’  first-team,  and  former Volyn Lutsk star Dombraye says the ex-England junior international  also deserves commendation for his showing  in the  Eagles since he switched his international allegiance to Nigeria.

The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale forward, who represented Nigeria at the 1999 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, said Iwobi distinguished himself, despite coming on as a late substitute in the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in Alexandria on March 29, which the Eagles lost 1-0.

However, Dombraye   has   warned  Nigeria  fans not  expect too much  from  the young player, saying  he needs time to grow before  he  will be ready to  take responsibility of being the national  team’s game-changer.

“Nigerians should not put pressure on him. I  mean the media  should stop trying to compare the little boy with his big uncle Jay  Jay  Okocha,” the former Poland-based player told our correspondent on the telephone from his base in Ukraine on Wednesday.

“He can fill the shoes of Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, but should not compare him to them (Okocha and Kanu), because it will put  the young player under pressure.

“We should let the young man enjoy himself on the pitch and we will get the best out of him. He is very talented, and his positioning is wonderful for a player of his age.”

The former Bendel Insurance attacker hailed the decision by Nigeria caretaker coach Samson Siasia to make Chelsea star Mikel Obi the captain of the national team.

 “I  think Mikel is cool-headed. Being  the captain now is a enough motivation for him,” he said.

Dombraye, who praised Siasia and his team for their showing in the double-header against Egypt, declared his support for the Nigeria Football Federation’s moves to engage the services of a foreign coach for the Eagles.