World Cup qualifiers: Chelsea defender reportedly among 6 players willing to represent Nigeria

• A Chelsea defender reportedly tops a six‑man database of foreign‑born players acceptable to power allegiance to Nigeria
• Head manager Eric Chelle held 'positive talks' with the targets, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers acceptable to resume
• Nigeria beryllium 4th successful their tourney qualification Group C, six points down table-topping South Africa

Amid the Super Eagles' caller struggles connected the pitch, reinforcements could beryllium connected the mode up of must-win planetary games.

With Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying run hanging successful the balance, the squad could person caller players soon.

Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle is connected a ngo to enlistee much foreign-born players to correspond Nigeria up of the resumption of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Photo by Richard Pellham.
Source: Getty Images

Six foreign-born players, galore of whom person represented different countries astatine the younker levels, are present reportedly consenting to perpetrate their planetary futures to Nigeria, OwnGoal Nigeria has reported.

This comes amid increasing optimism successful the West Africans' campy arsenic they anticipation to capitalise connected a imaginable three-point deduction for radical leaders South Africa, for the alleged usage of an ineligible player.

Nigeria could get World Cup subordinate boost

Despite what happens with Bafana Bafana, Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying signifier has been acold from convincing.

After six games, the Super Eagles person won conscionable once, drawn four, and mislaid one, placing them 4th successful their group.

They are presently six points down leaders South Africa, per FIFA.com, and conscionable 1 down Benin and Rwanda.

Head manager Eric Chelle, who took implicit the reins aft Nigeria’s disappointing start, is assured of a turnaround.

Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo is reportedly acceptable to judge an invitation to correspond the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Photo by Jonathan Moscrop.
Source: Getty Images

With the expected 3 constituent deduction from South Africa’s 2-0 triumph implicit Lesotho, Nigeria’s chances whitethorn soon beryllium backmost successful their ain hands.

Chelle has wasted nary clip successful searching for caller players to boost his team, identifying six dual-national players anxious to deterioration greenish and white.

Five players who could power to Nigeria

1 - Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea)

At the apical of the database is Tosin Adarabioyo, the recently signed Chelsea centre-back, who was calved successful England to Nigerian parents.

He represented England astatine the younker levels but has ne'er featured for the elder Three Lions, making him eligible for Nigeria.

Speaking astatine the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup, wherever the Blues precocious to the quarter-finals aft defeating Benfica, helium said:

“The World Cup means it is simply a determination I request to instrumentality sooner alternatively than later. It is simply a speech we volition have, and we volition spot however it goes.”

The defender’s carnal presence, composure, and Premier League acquisition would beryllium an plus for Nigeria’s shaky backline.

2 - Tino Anjorin (Empoli)

The erstwhile Chelsea and England younker midfielder is connected the verge of a determination to Torino but has reportedly pledged allegiance to the Super Eagles aft conversations with Chelle.

3 - Dapo Afolayan (St. Pauli)

The Bundesliga guardant met with Chelle during the Unity Cup successful London and has reportedly committed to switching nationalist teams.

4 - Moritz Jenz (Wolfsburg/Mainz 05)

Although wedding plans prevented a face-to-face meeting, anterior discussions were said to person been positive, and Jenz remains unfastened to joining the squad.

5 - Sam Edozie (Southampton/Anderlecht)

The breathtaking winger, who spent past play connected indebtedness successful Belgium, is besides said to beryllium acceptable to perpetrate his planetary aboriginal to Nigeria.

6 - Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)

The erstwhile Aston Villa antheral is highly rated successful England and has besides seemingly fixed his connection to articulation the Super Eagles setup.

It remains to beryllium seen however rapidly immoderate of these imaginable players could integrate into Nigeria's first-team operation and what interaction they could have.

Chelsea prima to determine planetary future

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo stated helium was adjacent to making a determination implicit his planetary aboriginal with Nigeria.

The promising defender was calved successful London to Nigerian parents and would frankincense beryllium eligible to play planetary shot for some countries.

Despite representing England astatine the younker level, the Nigeria Football Federation has reportedly made efforts to correspond the federation of his parents.

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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, transcript exertion astatine Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng