The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to lose talented defender Michael Kayode to the Italian senior team, Soccernet.ng reports.
Kayode has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League since last season. He joined Brentford from Fiorentina in 2025, and he has been a consistent performer ever since.
Last season, he featured in 37 games, contributing one goal and one assist. He was a solid rock at the back and became famous for his long throws, which consistently caused trouble for opponents and led to goals for his club.
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However, Nigeria had taken notice of Kayode since his days at Fiorentina, and there have long been calls to draft him into the national team setup.
The obstacle, however, has been that the 22-year-old currently plays for the Italian youth setup. Although he has Nigerian roots, he is eligible for Italy because he was born there and obtained his citizenship when he turned 18.
Consequently, he has represented them at the Under-18, Under-19, and Under-21 levels. Still, there was hope that as long as he did not feature for the senior team, he would remain eligible to play for the Super Eagles.
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Those hopes are now set to be dashed, as he has been called up to the Italian senior team for the upcoming international break.
Michael Kayode has been called-up to the senior Italy squad for the first time
So proud of you, Michael pic.twitter.com/ThKKMYXJZx
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 19, 2026
They take on Belgium, Turkey, and France in their opening fixtures of the new UEFA Nations League, and if Kayode features in those games, under FIFA rules, he will no longer be eligible to play for Nigeria even if he later decides to switch allegiances.
Super Eagles Have Enough Cover Despite Kayode Snub
Although Michael Kayode has given no thought to Nigeria, the Super Eagles have enough cover at right-back.
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Ola Aina remains one of the best right-backs in the Premier League, and when fit, he offers genuine quality.
Aina is exceptionally comfortable with the ball at his feet, an adept dribbler, and a menace in one-on-one situations.
Even when Aina is unavailable, Bright Osayi-Samuel has held the fort brilliantly over the past year during Aina’s absences.
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There is also Abdullahi Bewene, who proved reliable when Nigeria took on Poland in June. Benjamin Fredrick can also put in a solid shift when called upon.
So, although Kayode would have been a valuable addition for Nigeria, the right-back position looks well sorted for the next few years.
