Ugochukwu Iwu plays for the first time after surgery
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Armenia national team and Rubin Kazan midfielder Ugochukwu Iwu has returned to the pitch after a long spell on the sidelines.
On July 8, Iwu took part in Rubin’s friendly match against Moscow’s Spartak. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with the Armenian national team midfielder coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute.
For Iwu, this was his first match after back surgery. The player had not appeared on the pitch since February 2026 and had been undergoing rehabilitation. Earlier, Armenia head coach Yeghishe Melikyan had suggested that the midfielder could be out for a longer period.
Iwu’s return is very good news for the Armenian national team. If his recovery continues normally, the defensive midfielder should be ready for the start of the 2026/27 Nations League campaign.
Iwu remains one of the important players in the national team’s midfield. His return will give Armenia’s coaching staff more options ahead of the official matches.