He is one of the rising stars of Nigerian football. Rafiu Durosinmi, who is currently leading the goal scorers’ chart in Belgium’s Jupilar League, has been described by followers of the game as one of the stars to watch out for in the global game due not only for his goal-scoring exploits, but also because of his all-action output on the pitch.

The striker, who began his career in Lagos and made waves in the Czech Republic and Italian leagues before landing in Belgium, is currently ranked as Nigeria’s 15th most valuable player.

In a country with over 200 players in Europe’s top leagues, Durosinmi is rated by pundits as one of the emerging talents capable of rejuvenating the Super Eagles.

Following the country’s failure to qualify for two consecutive FIFA World Cup championships, there is a clamour by Super Eagles’ fans for a new set of players to rebuild the team. And among the players touted to make the new-look national team is the KRC Genk of Belgium star, who made his Super Eagles’ debut in the recent Unity Cup.

Speaking with The Guardian at the weekend, the six feet four inches tall 23-year-old was very optimistic that the Super Eagles would regain their position among the top football sides of the world.

Durosinmi, who described Nigeria’s recent struggles as “the storm before glory,” said that the Super Eagles has too many quality footballers capable of leading the team to the top of African football.

“We are blessed with many talented young players, who are ready to answer the call,” he said.

“Every footballer dreams of representing his country and getting the opportunity to wear Nigeria’s badge at the Unity Cup was a dream come true. This is something I’ve dreamed of all my life, so being able to represent my country would mean a lot to me. It’s a dream I’ve always wanted to achieve, and I’m ready for it. I hope to do my best to help the team in any capacity whenever I called upon to do that,” the Unique Football Academy and Box2Box FC product said.

Durosinmi, who disclosed that he started playing football in his community, Irewe in Ojo Council of Lagos State, before he moved to the city, affirms that Nigeria is blessed with talents that can dominate every level of the international game all things being equal.

“My football journey started when I was a child, playing football with my friends in my village, Irewe, before I moved to the city to live with my sister. That was where my love for the game really started to grow. I knew I wanted to become a footballer, even though I didn’t really understand how everything worked at the time. Eventually, I started training with my friends, kept pushing myself, and here I am today,” he said.

Who are Durosinmi’s role models? He said: “Growing up, I looked up to Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Didier Drogba. They were players I admired a lot, and even today, they’re still footballers I look up to.”

Playing in different countries has its challenges, but Durosinmi seems to be coping with the demands of professional football excellently.

The youngster, who started his European career at MFK Karviná and also played for Viktoriar Plzeň in the Czech Republic league, as well as Pisa of Italy before moving to Belgium, said that the different cultures have impacted so much on his game that he can now adapt to different situations and playing styles.

He said: “Every country has its own style of football. For example, in the Czech Republic, the game is more physical, with a lot of emphasis on running and intensity. In Italy, it’s more tactical and defensive. Belgium feels quite similar to the Czech Republic in terms of physicality, but there’s also a stronger focus on playing football. Each league has helped me grow as a player, giving me more experience, exposure, and a better understanding of the game.

“My ambition is to grow more as a player and to be playing in one of the top leagues in the world. That’s one of my biggest goals, and I’ll keep working hard to make it happen.”