Iwobi Asked Me To Play For Nigeria — Bournemouth Star Recounts Encounter

Philip Billing

“Iwobi asked me to shun Denmark and play for the Super Eagles,” Bournemouth star recalls his encounter with Iwobi

In preparation for earning his third cap for the senior national team of Denmark, Philip Billing, a standout midfielder for Bournemouth, has reflected on how close he came to playing for the Nigerian national team.

As a result of his parents, Billing is qualified for the senior national team of Nigeria. In 2019, Super Eagles player Alex Iwobi made the first official approach to Billing to play for Nigeria during an EPL match.

The 23-year-old described how Iwobi approached him to switch allegiance during Bournemouth's 3-1 victory over Iwobi's Everton team last month.

“It wasn't until when we [Bournemouth] were going to play against Everton a couple of weeks ago when Alex Iwobi asked if I might be interested in coming and playing for Nigeria,” Billing told BT, as per Bournemouth Echo.

“He said the coach had asked me. It was the first time I heard anything concrete myself.

“It's a pat on the back that another country would like you to play for them. I just take that as a shrug and proof that you are doing well.

“It would feel strange to have to play for Nigeria, even though my father is from there.

“I am half Nigerian and I feel that way too but I was born and raised in Denmark. My mother is Danish and my sister is Danish, so it would feel strange to have to play for Nigeria.”

Billing, who leads Bournemouth in scoring this season with six goals, laughed when asked about the experience ahead of Denmark's matchup with Denmark in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. He joked that he probably would have had more international caps.

He remarked, “Maybe I would have had more caps now if I had listened to Alex,” before admitting that he was incredibly honored and proud to be wearing the Danish national team's colors.