Chelsea do not want to be losing too many players to AFCON, it’s just frustrating and at a key part of the season.
But if defender Tosin Adarabioyo accepts an offer to go an play for Nigeria, we will face losing him to AFCON soon.
So from a selfish standpoint, I hope he doesn’t join Nigeria and play for them. But for him, I think he should absolutely consider the offer and go and represent Nigeria at international level.
The Nigeria Football Federation have come out and stated that Tosin is aware of the steps he needs to take to represent Nigeria.
They have just announced their latest squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifying matches.
The absence of Tosin from the squad has caused some debate locally, but it looks like the decision firmly rests on the player.
The Nigeria Football Federation disclosed there have been discussions with Tosin in the past and he indicated that he was not ready to play for Nigeria at that time.
The NFF further suggested that Tosin is aware of what he needs to do to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria.
“Jose Peseiro travelled to meet with him in the UK last year to speak to him about playing for Nigeria, but he told the coach at that time that he was not ready,” an NFF source told ESPN.
“If he wants to make the switch now he knows what to do.”
So, the ball is in Tosin’s court, and it would appear that he might still be holding out on an England call-up which of course, is the country of his birth.
Tosin has recently turned 27 and has not represented England since 2015 at U19 level. He has yet to gain a senior call-up.
But perhaps being signed for Chelsea this summer means that Tosin is looking at this as an opportunity to earn an England call-up, and I do rate that ambition.
However, playing for Nigeria at international level would also be a massive achievement, and I actually think he would be smarter to push for that at this stage.
Tosin remains eligible to represent Nigeria through descent, and I believe that players who wish to play at the top level and to have a successful career should play international football as well.
But the decision is not mine of course, and I would love it if Tosin nailed down a spot for Chelsea, played well for a sustained period, and earned an England call-up. That would be great. The decision is his, I just feel in his shoes that I’d want to be playing international football as soon and as regular as possible.
He’s probably going to give it another season maybe and then make a decision then. I have heard through SPTC sources that he is open to playing for Nigeria, but has yet to go ahead with that decision.