Alex Iwobi matches Mohamed Salah’s Premier League appearance record

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi moved level with Mohamed Salah as the joint-second highest African appearance-maker in Premier League history during Fulham’s 1-0 victory over Coventry City.

The midfielder made his 328th Premier League appearance at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday, equalling the tally reached by Liverpool forward Salah.

Only Kolo Toure, who played 353 Premier League matches for Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, has made more appearances among African players.

Iwobi’s total includes 100 appearances for Arsenal, 123 for Everton and 104 for Fulham. The 328-match landmark also makes him Nigeria’s leading appearance-maker in the competition, ahead of Shola Ameobi’s 298.

He will have the opportunity to move outright second when Fulham visit Aston Villa in their next Premier League fixture.

The milestone came as Fulham secured successive league victories for the first time this season. Oscar Bobb scored the only goal in the 80th minute to give Alvaro Arbeloa’s side all three points.

Bobb created space in a crowded penalty area by weaving past a defender before placing his finish into the bottom corner.

Iwobi began on the left wing and played for 73 minutes before being replaced by Cesar Palacios. Although he did not score, he contributed to Fulham’s performance with 60 touches, 51 passes completed at an accuracy of 86.3%, two key passes and three crosses.

He also had a shot blocked from close range after Josh King’s effort had struck the bar.

Calvin Bassey started alongside Iwobi and helped Fulham preserve their clean sheet. Coventry City brought on Super Eagles players Frank Onyeka and Taiwo Awoniyi as second-half substitutes in Frank Lampard’s side.

The victory lifted Fulham to 13th in the table with eight points from eight matches.