Nigeria didn’t push me to switch – Tomori

Fikayo Tomori has revealed that Nigeria never made real effort to convince him to play for the Super Eagles before his international call-up for England.

The 21-year-old Chelsea defender was selected in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria earlier this October.

Before this Evening Standard publication there had been serious talks about the footballer turning down the overtures made by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Tomori’s parents are of Nigerian descent while he is also eligible for Canada having been born in Calgary, representing them three times at Under-20s level.

His breakthrough into Chelsea’s first-team under Frank Lampard this season sparked a scramble to secure his international future but Tomori insisted he had no contact with Nigeria prior to accepting Southgate’s call. The Evening Standard quotes him.

“England called me up in September, and I didn’t get a call up from anyone and when they called me up, it was hard to say no to them,” he said. 

  “But I enjoy Nigerian music, I’m Nigerian, it’s my culture and I’m very proud of it.”

Tomori will look to continue his fine form as the Stamford Bridge army travel to Burnley on Saturday aiming to extend their record of six consecutive victories in all competitions.