As Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen prepares to unveil the Super Eagles’ squad for the crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya in October, attention is firmly on Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

According to recent local reports, Adarabioyo, born in England, has reportedly chosen to represent Nigeria at the international level.

However, official confirmation from Eguavoen is still pending, leaving questions about whether the Premier League star will feature in the squad for the upcoming qualifiers.

Daybreak reports indicate that Nigeria’s coaching team is actively evaluating defensive options across Europe in a bid to strengthen the backline.

With veteran defenders William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi providing leadership but lacking pace, there’s a growing need for younger talent to rejuvenate the defense.

At a combined age of 61, both players bring valuable experience, but their declining speed has become a point of concern.

Tosin Adarabioyo, at 26 years old, could be a promising solution. Despite not having earned a senior cap for either England or Nigeria, his Premier League experience and defensive prowess make him an appealing addition to the Super Eagles.

Furthermore, his familiarity with four key squad members—Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Ademola Lookman, all former club teammates—would likely ease his integration into the team.

Although Adarabioyo hasn’t represented England at youth level since 2015, when he played for the U20s, his prolonged absence from the international scene adds intrigue to his potential switch to Nigeria.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have maintained their 39th position in the latest FIFA world rankings, despite securing four points in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The updated rankings, released by FIFA on Thursday morning, also see Nigeria holding 6th place in Africa.

While the Super Eagles achieved a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin’s Cheetahs and played out a 0-0 draw against Rwanda’s Amavubi, these results were insufficient to improve their global standing.

Nigeria slipped from 38th to 39th in the rankings a few months ago due to a string of underwhelming performances and has remained in the same spot.

On the African continent, Nigeria still trails behind football powerhouses like Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tunisia. However, with a new coaching team in place, the Super Eagles will have another opportunity to climb the rankings during the next AFCON qualifiers in October.

Top 10 African Teams in the Latest FIFA Rankings:

1. Morocco
2. Senegal
3. Egypt
4. Côte d’Ivoire
5. Tunisia
6. Nigeria
7. Algeria
8. Cameroon
9. Mali
10. DR Congo

Despite their current rank, Nigeria still holds an advantage over other notable African football nations like Ghana, South Africa, and Cameroon.

However, the Super Eagles’ recent challenges in international competitions have kept them stagnant in the rankings, despite the team’s rich footballing legacy and immense potential.

Meanwhile, teams like Algeria (41st), Congo (58th), and Burkina Faso (63rd) have made gains in the rankings. In contrast, Cameroon dropped to 53rd, while South Africa (59th) and Ghana (70th) have also experienced declines.

With an important AFCON qualifier on the horizon, the Super Eagles will be eager to break their current ranking plateau and see their efforts reflected in future updates.

The race for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is heating up as several teams left their mark on matchday 2 of the qualifiers. Egypt and Ivory Coast are among the standout performers, securing commanding victories that have put them in control of their respective groups.

Egypt, the seven-time AFCON champions, maintained their perfect start with a dominant 4-0 win over Botswana. Mohamed Salah found the back of the net, capping off a remarkable display of Egypt’s supremacy throughout the match.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast, the reigning champions, made their presence felt with a 2-0 victory over Chad. This result places them atop Group G with six points, three ahead of Zambia, as they aim to defend their AFCON title.

Other notable results saw South Africa snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory over South Sudan with a last-minute goal, while Nigeria was held to a goalless draw in Rwanda. Despite the draw, Nigeria remains second in Group D with four points, while Rwanda has two points.

East African teams also enjoyed success on the road, with Kenya defeating Namibia 2-1 and Tanzania edging out Guinea 2-1, earning crucial away wins in their respective groups.

Here’s a breakdown of the matchday 2 results and current group standings:

Group C

• Egypt: 6 points (defeated Botswana 4-0)
• Botswana: 0 points (lost to Egypt 0-4)

Group D

• Nigeria: 4 points (held to a 0-0 draw in Rwanda)
• Rwanda: 2 points (held Nigeria to a 0-0 draw)

Group G

• Ivory Coast: 6 points (beat Chad 2-0)
• Chad: 0 points (lost to Ivory Coast 0-2)
• Zambia: 3 points (three points behind Ivory Coast)

Group K

• South Africa: 4 points (clinched a last-minute 3-2 win in South Sudan)
• Uganda: 4 points (behind South Africa on goal difference)

Rwanda’s goalkeeper, Fiacre Ntwari, played a pivotal role in their draw against Nigeria, repeatedly denying efforts from Super Eagles’ star Ademola Lookman, who was nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

For South Africa, substitute Thalente Mbatha delivered once again, netting a 95th-minute winner against South Sudan. Mbatha has now scored two crucial goals in the qualifying campaign.

As the dust settles on matchday 2, Egypt leads Group C with six points, while Nigeria sits second in Group D with four. South Africa heads Group K on goal difference, ahead of Uganda, also with four points.

The AFCON qualifiers will resume in October, with Nigeria set for a crucial doubleheader against Libya. As the campaign progresses, several teams are still in contention, making the battle for a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations far from decided.