By Milcah Tanimu
As Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen prepares to announce the squad for the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya in October, attention is focused on Chelsea central defender Tosin Adarabioyo. Recent reports in the local media suggest that Tosin has decided to commit his international future to Nigeria rather than his country of birth, England.
There has been no official contact from Eguavoen to clarify Tosin’s international intentions. As a result, it seems unlikely that the Premier League star will be included in the squad for the upcoming match against Libya.
The coaching staff is currently evaluating players across Europe to enhance Nigeria’s defensive options. With the aging central defensive duo of William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi—whose combined age is 61—the team is seeking younger players to complement their experience. While Troost-Ekong and Ajayi bring a wealth of knowledge, their lack of pace could be exploited by opposing teams.
Should Tosin receive an invitation to join the Super Eagles, his prior experience playing alongside four key members of Nigeria’s starting lineup—Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Ademola Lookman—would aid in his integration into the team.
Notably, the London-born defender has not played for England’s national teams in nearly nine years, with his last appearance for the Young Lions occurring on November 15, 2015, against Japan’s youth team. As the squad announcement date approaches, fans will be watching closely for any developments regarding Tosin’s commitment to the Super Eagles.
