Dapo Afolayan: Mowbray’s ‘be more positive’ call, and what followed

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray almost left out a winger against West Ham, chose instead to “be more positive”, and Super Eagles-eligible forward Dapo Afolayan repaid him with the goal that won the game, his sixth of the season.

Andri Gudjohnsen headed Blackburn in front at Ewood Park on 7 November, and Afolayan added the second 19 minutes from time, taking a pass from Jayden Fevrier and driving a left-foot shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. West Ham pulled one back, but Rovers held on for a 2-1 win that moved them to within three points of the Championship play-off places.

The England-born forward has committed his international future to Nigeria but is still waiting for a first call from Eric Chelle, who is preparing for Friday's AFCON 2027 qualifier against Tanzania without him.

The selection that nearly went the other way

Mowbray explained afterwards that he had considered a more defensive set-up, one that would have meant dropping a winger, most likely Fevrier. He went the other way, as he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

In the end, I decided to try and be more positive and go with Dapo and Fevs.

Both wingers were involved in the decisive goal. Pulse Nigeria counted it as Afolayan's sixth of the campaign, and reported that he remains hopeful of a maiden Super Eagles call-up.

Analysis: why Afolayan's case is about type, not just goals

Six goals from the wing in the Championship is a strong return, and it comes in a side pushing for the play-offs. But Afolayan's problem has never really been numbers. Chelle's wide options are crowded, with Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon and Moses Usor all in the squad now in Uyo.

What Afolayan offers is a direct runner who shoots early, which is exactly how he scored against West Ham. Against opponents who sit deep, as Tanzania are likely to in Uyo, a winger who goes for goal from the edge of the box is a useful tool to have.

He came close to a call earlier in the autumn, as Soccernet reported in October, when he said he was so close to a maiden call-up. With this window's squad already set, the next chance comes in March, and more nights like this one would make his name harder to leave off the list.