Tosin Adarabioyo Rejects Super Eagles Call-Up Ahead of High-Profile June Friendlies

Posted : 07 May 2026

Chelsea central defender Tosin Adarabioyo has reached a definitive conclusion regarding his international future. Despite persistent rumors linking him with a switch to the Super Eagles, the former Manchester City academy graduate will not feature in Nigeria’s upcoming fixtures. The 28-year-old has reportedly informed representatives that his current priority remains firmly fixed on his professional commitments at Stamford Bridge. Consequently, he will be excluded from the squad set to participate in the summer international window.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face a demanding schedule this June. They will first compete in the 2026 Unity Cup in London starting late May. Following this, high-profile friendly matches are set against Poland on June 3 and Portugal on June 10. While Nigerian football authorities were hopeful of securing the defender's services for these tests, no official commitment has been made. Sources indicate that there has been no direct contact between Adarabioyo and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding an immediate change of allegiance.

Former Nigeria manager José Peseiro had previously explored the possibility of bringing the London-born defender into the national setup. However, those informal inquiries did not result in a formal agreement. Adarabioyo has a history with the England national team, having earned caps at U16, U17, U18, and U19 levels. Because these appearances occurred in non-competitive youth fixtures, he remains eligible to represent Nigeria without a complex FIFA approval process.

Coach Eric Chelle is expected to lean on his established defensive core as the team prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The absence of Adarabioyo means the technical crew will look toward other options to bolster the backline. Names like Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi are likely to lead the defense during the June tour. While the door remains open for a future switch, the Chelsea man appears content to wait before making a final decision on his senior international path.

The upcoming match against Portugal in Lisbon will serve as a final warm-up for the Seleção before they travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For Nigeria, it is a chance to rebuild after missing out on the global tournament following a playoff loss to DR Congo. The NFF remains committed to recruiting elite dual-nationality players, but for now, Adarabioyo will not be part of the project.

Tosin Adarabioyo Rejects Super Eagles Call-Up Ahead of High-Profile June Friendlies

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