Rafiu Durosinmi Thrilled by Super Eagles Call-Up, Names Osimhen Among His Inspirations

Pisa forward Rafiu Durosinmi has described his maiden invitation to Nigeria’s senior men’s national team as a dream come true, while revealing that Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, and Akor Adams are among the strikers inspiring his career.

Durosinmi earned a place in Super Eagle’s squad for the Unity Cup tournament in London after an impressive campaign split between Pisa and Czech side FC Viktoria Plzeň.

The Super Eagles will begin their title defence against Zimbabwe on Tuesday at The Valley, with the forward hoping to make a strong impression during his first experience with the senior national team.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Durosinmi expressed his excitement over the invitation, describing it as one of the proudest moments of his career.

“I was so happy because it is a great honour out of many talents from Nigeria and all over the world,” Durosinmi told the Super Eagles media team.

“I sent the message to my family and my agent also, and they were all happy.”

The striker added that representing Nigeria is the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition.

“It means a lot to me. It is a great honour to put on the jersey,” he said.

“It is just like seeing dreams come to pass. How you dreamt about playing for your country and representing your country, and now you have the chance.”

The former Viktoria Plzeň striker also spoke about his desire to leave a lasting legacy with the Super Eagles.

“I want to finish my career as a legend. I want to be someone who plays for Super Eagles, the name they would remember,” he stated.

“When Durosinmi played for Super Eagles, he gave his best and was one of the best. That’s how I want to finish my career.”

Durosinmi further identified Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu, and Sevilla attacker Akor Adams as players he admires and learns from.

“I am not really someone who watches football, but now watching the Super Eagles play, the person I have watched play is Osimhen,” he explained.

“I also watch Paul Onuachu when he plays for his club and national team. And also Akor Adams is doing great. I think they are good examples for me.”

The forward received his first senior national team invitation after a productive season in Europe, where he scored 13 goals in 30 appearances for Viktoria Plzeň before joining Pisa during the winter transfer window.

He also registered a goal in Serie A action following his move to the Italian club.

Durosinmi will now battle for a place in Nigeria’s attack as the Super Eagles aim to retain the Unity Cup title in London.

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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