Nigerian international Alex Iwobi makes Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list

Forbes has released this year’s list of Africa 30 Under 30.

The list, which is in its fifth year of publication, features young Africans who are making waves in their respective industries.

This year, there are 120 honorees organised under four categories of 30 persons: Sport, Creative, Business and Technology. According to Forbes, the listing was in no particular order.

Nigeria’s sole representative in the Sports Category is Super Eagles’ striker Iwobi Iwobi, who is named alongside the likes of Mohammed Salah, 27 (Egypt), Jacob Kiplimo, 18, (Uganda), Caster Semenya, 28, (South Africa), Faith Kipyegon, 25, (Kenya), Francine Niyonsaba, 26, (Burundi), among others.

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Alex, who is nephew to Super Eagles legend Jay-Jay Okocha, plays for Arsenal FC at the club level. And as Forbes notes, it’s not surprising that some of that great footballing gene gets passed on to him.

The 2018 World Cup was a big deal the world over but Nigeria wouldn’t have made an appearance at the tournament if not for Iwobi, who scored the lone goal that secured a spot for the Super Eagles. For some fans, that was where their love for him started. Alex, who is often compared to his uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha, has also been an integral part of Arsenal, where he plays alongside Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny. So far, he has made 100 appearances for the club.

On the comparison between himself and his uncle Jay Jay, Alex tells the BBC:

“I can never get tired of people comparing us. I see my uncle as an idol, someone I have always looked up to as a footballer,” he says. “I still have a long way to go, maybe one day, I can be on his level or greater.”