Blackburn Rovers forward, Dapo Afolayan, has expressed his desire to represent Nigeria at senior international level, saying he hopes to receive a Super Eagles call-up before the end of his career.
The 29-year-old English-born striker, who has Nigerian parents, remains eligible to play for Nigeria despite making one appearance for England C.
His involvement with the non-senior side does not prevent him from switching allegiance to the Super Eagles.
Afolayan revealed that he had previously been close to earning a Nigeria invitation during his time in the Bundesliga but missed out after his form dipped at an unfortunate time.
“I would love to play for Nigeria. It’s always been something I wanted to do since I was a kid. I have been really close, and timing has been unfortunate in a few cases,” Afolayan told Blackburn Rovers’ official website.
“I was doing well in the Bundesliga, and I was very close to a call-up, and then I stopped playing before the March international break. I ended up not going. It’s just one of those things that has not come to pass.”
The versatile forward joined Blackburn from German club FC St. Pauli in January 2026 and has quickly established himself at Ewood Park.
Afolayan has scored three goals and registered two assists in eight league appearances this season, with his current form potentially strengthening his case for consideration by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.
