Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has praised Super Eagles hopeful Dapo Afolayan after the winger produced a brilliant display and scored twice for the club.
Afolayan was the star of the show as Blackburn secured an important victory, ending an eight-match wait for goals in style. The Nigerian-eligible attacker looked sharp from the first whistle and caused problems for the opposition defence throughout the game.
Speaking after the match, Mowbray described the winger as an intelligent player who understands the game well and continues to improve. The manager said Afolayan’s performance showed the quality he brings to the team whenever he is at his best.
The brace was a timely boost for the forward, who has been working hard to make a bigger impact this season. His goals helped Blackburn secure all three points and gave supporters plenty to celebrate.
Afolayan has remained on the radar of Nigerian football fans for some time. Born in England, he is eligible to play for the Super Eagles and has previously expressed his admiration for the national team setup. He also visited Nigeria’s camp during the Unity Cup and met members of Eric Chelle’s coaching crew.
With the 2027 AFCON qualifiers approaching, performances like this could strengthen his chances of earning a future invitation to the national team.
The 28-year-old has built a reputation as a hardworking attacker capable of scoring goals and creating chances. When fully confident, he can be one of Blackburn’s most dangerous players going forward.
For now, Afolayan will be focused on maintaining his form and helping Blackburn climb the Championship table. But after this latest performance, the conversation around a possible Super Eagles call-up is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
If he continues to deliver displays like this, Eric Chelle may soon find it difficult to ignore his name.
