The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in talks with newly signed Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo for the 26 year old to commit his international future to Nigeria after representing England at youth level, owngoalnigeria.com understands.
Adarabioyo haven’t been involved with England at any level since 2016, but he has his sights on making the senior team and will fancy his chances now that he is at a top English Premier League side in Chelsea.
Despite that London World revealed that the NFF are hopeful he will have a change of mind and switch to the Nigerian team and a high ranked member of the football house was reported to have spoken with the lanky center back.
It is not the first time that he has been approached with former coach Jose Peseiro reaching out to him before the AFCON in January to be a part of the Nigerian team, but he declined the invitation.
The Super Eagles is still without a coach following the exit of Finidi George, but that hasn’t stopped the NFF from trying to woo Adarabioyo, who they believe is at the right age and have the required experience to help the team as they head for a rebuild.
Adarabioyo will have to make up his mind before he gets to a certain age with the comments of former captain of the Super Eagles John Obi Mikel about players waiting till they have past their prime before accepting to play for Nigeria.
He cited the case of Shola Amoebi who rejected the team till he was 29 year old and with no chance of making it with England, before deciding to play for Nigeria.
“Shola had the opportunity to come play for Nigeria. Nigeria was chasing him, the Nigerian FA kept asking Shola to come play for us, and he refused. He said, ‘No, I wanna play for England. I am waiting for England, waiting for a call-up from England.
“Shola gave us a call when he was 29, almost 30, to come and play for us, and then he came and only played one year. That was when the Nigerian FA didn’t have an option because we were going to the World Cup, so, okay, let’s just give him the chance.
“But he waited till he was past his best… then he decided, ‘I wanna come play for Nigeria.’ Those are the things I am talking about. We are not a second option. I didn’t know what the situation was with his family back then, but just an example for me. Players shouldn’t wait, you can’t wait. If you make a decision when you’re 17 or 16, stick to it. Don’t give us a call when you are 30 and say, ‘Now, I wanna represent my African roots.’”
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
