Tosin Adarabioyo has not applied to switch international allegiance to Nigeria

Tottenham Hotspur central defender Tosin Adarabioyo has not submitted an application to make a one-time switch of international allegiance from England to Nigeria.

Reports in local media had suggested that Ffa, football’s world governing body, had rejected an application from the 29-year-old to represent the Super Eagles. However, those reports are inaccurate because Adarabioyo has not yet requested a change to his sporting nationality.

Adarabioyo, who was born in London, qualifies to play for Nigeria through his Nigerian parents. He was previously captain of Manchester City’s youth team and has been approached informally about the possibility of representing the three-time African champions.

Coaches of Nigeria, both past and present, including Jose Peseiro and Eric Chelle, have made enquiries to establish whether the defender would be willing to commit his international future to the Super Eagles. Adarabioyo is currently concentrating on his club career.

The Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, travelled to England four years ago to watch a Fulham match. His visit, however, was not connected to scouting Adarabioyo.

Despite his eligibility for Nigeria, Adarabioyo has only represented England at youth level. He won 14 caps for the country’s Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 sides.

His last England appearance came exactly 11 years ago, when he played for the Under-19 team in a friendly against Japan on November 15, 2015. Under the eligibility rules, that international history does not prevent him from requesting a one-time switch to Nigeria, but no such request has been filed.

The latest former England youth international to change allegiance to Nigeria is Fulham starlet Chibuzo Nwoko. He follows goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina in making the move.

For now, there has been no formal decision by Ffa concerning Adarabioyo because the defender has not started the process. Any future application would be required before the governing body could consider whether he was eligible to represent Nigeria.