Rafiu Durosinmi earns Super Eagles call-up for 2026 Unity Cup after Plzeň breakout
Rafiu Durosinmi has been named in Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad for the 2026 Unity Cup in London after a breakthrough season with Viktoria Plzeň and a winter move to Pisa in Italy.
Rafiu Durosinmi’s first senior call-up to the Super Eagles caps a rapid rise from the Czech top flight to European club football and places the 23-year-old striker on the international stage ahead of a busy cycle for Nigeria. The towering forward thanked family and coaches after receiving the invitation and said the selection represented a dream fulfilled and the start of a new chapter in his career.
From Plzeň breakthrough to Pisa transfer
Durosinmi arrived in European football determined to establish himself as a physical and technical presence up front, and his season with Viktoria Plzeň provided that platform. He scored 13 goals across competitions for the Czech side, combining aerial power with intelligent runs that stretched opponents and created space for teammates.
That form prompted a winter move to Italian side Pisa, where his profile and potential attracted attention from Nigeria’s technical staff. The transfer has given Durosinmi exposure to a higher tactical standard and the chance to adapt to a league where defensive detail and positional discipline are emphasized.
Chelle rewards form as Nigeria widen attacking options
Head coach Éric Chelle has signalled an openness to integrate in-form players from European leagues as he shapes the Super Eagles for the next international cycle. The invitation to Durosinmi follows selections that prioritise current performance and physical profiles that fit Chelle’s evolving tactical plans.
Nigeria’s attacking pool is one of the continent’s deepest, with established stars and emerging talents competing for places. Chelle’s decision to include Durosinmi reflects a broader strategy to expand options and test combinations ahead of qualification fixtures and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations preparations.
Durosinmi cites Osimhen, Onuachu and Akor Adams as models
In interviews with the Super Eagles media team, Durosinmi said he studies three compatriot strikers whose performances he admires: Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu and Akor Adams. He highlighted different aspects of each player—Osimhen’s pace and finishing, Onuachu’s aerial dominance, and Adams’s rapid rise through European competition—as examples to emulate.
Durosinmi admitted he is not a regular spectator of every match but pays close attention to how these forwards influence games and occupy defenders. The young striker described their careers as blueprints for converting club form into sustained international contribution.
Unity Cup provides a testing ground in London
The 2026 Unity Cup in London brings together Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Jamaica and India and will be used to assess new call-ups and test tactical ideas in a competitive setting. Durosinmi could make his first senior appearance for the Super Eagles in one of the tournament fixtures, with selection decisions expected to balance experience and experimentation.
The tournament also serves as part of Nigeria’s broader preparation ahead of qualification fixtures and continental objectives. For coaching staff, the Unity Cup offers controlled opportunities to observe players in match conditions and to measure how club form translates against varied international opponents.
Tactical profile: aerial presence and movement in the final third
Durosinmi’s most noticeable attributes are his height and ability to win aerial duels, traits that made him a consistent threat for Plzeň on set pieces and crosses. Beyond pure physicality, his movement in the final third has improved, enabling him to stretch defensive lines and open channels for teammates to exploit.
Scouts and analysts have also noted his pace over short distances and willingness to challenge defenders, qualities that fit well into systems seeking a target who can both hold play and run in behind. Continued adaptation at Pisa will be important for refining technical deficiencies and improving link-up play at a higher tactical level.
Personal milestone and long-term ambitions
Receiving the Super Eagles call-up was an emotional moment for Durosinmi and his family, who celebrated the realisation of a childhood ambition. He described the selection as an honour and expressed a desire to leave a lasting legacy, saying he wants to be remembered as one of the nation’s best when his career concludes.
That ambition carries responsibility: securing a regular role with the Super Eagles will demand consistency at club level, an ability to adapt to different tactical roles, and strong performances when given international minutes. Durosinmi recognises that the invite is the beginning rather than the culmination of his objectives.
Durosinmi now faces the immediate challenge of turning squad inclusion into meaningful international minutes and contributions, and the Unity Cup represents his first concrete opportunity to demonstrate that he can translate club scoring form to the national stage. The Super Eagles camp will provide the environment to assess his readiness, and his performances in London could determine whether the 23-year-old becomes a fixture in Nigeria’s forward line.
