Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo champions Youth Development in Lagos visit amid Eagles interest

By Dayo Awoniyi

Fresh off Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup triumph over Paris Saint-Germain, Nigerian-eligible defender Tosin Adarabioyo is back in Nigeria, making waves both on and off the pitch.

The London-born centre-back, who joined Chelsea earlier this year following spells at Manchester City and Fulham, is currently being monitored by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle.

With the national team ramping up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Adarabioyo is seen as a key defensive prospect.

Eligible to represent both England and Nigeria, a final decision on his international allegiance is expected in the coming months. The NFF remains hopeful of securing the services of the towering 26-year-old.

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During his visit to Lagos, Adarabioyo paid a courtesy call on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who praised the defender’s commitment to his roots.

“It is always inspiring to meet young Nigerians who make their mark internationally and remain grounded and stay connected to home,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.

Beyond reconnecting with his heritage, Adarabioyo is also giving back. As part of his visit, he launched the Tosin Adarabioyo Youth Cup, a grassroots football tournament aimed at nurturing young Nigerian talent and offering a platform for exposure and development.

The tournament is scheduled to take place at Onikan Stadium in Lagos, where Adarabioyo is expected to interact with fans and players alike. Several youth teams will take part in the event, which has already been praised by stakeholders as a significant contribution to youth sports development in Nigeria.

Adarabioyo’s initiative has drawn widespread commendation from football administrators, who see the project as a catalyst for unearthing the next generation of Nigerian stars.

His presence in Nigeria has reignited optimism over a potential Super Eagles call-up, while also underscoring a broader personal mission—using global success to drive local impact.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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