Blackburn Rovers striker Dapo Afolayan has declared his ambition to represent Nigeria at senior international level, stating that pulling on a Super Eagles shirt has been a lifelong dream.

The 29-year-old forward was born in London to Nigerian parents and remains eligible to play for the Super Eagles. Although Afolayan has appeared for England C once, that side is not affiliated with FIFA, meaning the appearance carries no international cap and leaves his eligibility for Nigeria intact.

A dream deferred

Afolayan revealed he has come agonisingly close to a Super Eagles call-up on more than one occasion, with timing proving his greatest obstacle.

"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.

He pointed to a particularly frustrating near-miss during his time in Germany. "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," he said.

Building a case at Ewood Park

Afolayan joined Championship side Blackburn Rovers from German club FC St. Pauli in January 2026. The versatile forward has settled quickly, registering three goals and two assists across eight league appearances — a return that has underlined his quality in the second tier of English football.

With his form at Ewood Park gathering momentum, Afolayan will hope his performances are enough to finally attract the attention of the Nigeria coaching staff and fulfil an ambition he has carried since childhood.