Nigeria and Rangers center-back Leon Balogun has come out to address ongoing speculations regarding his retirement from international action, Soccernet.football reports.
Balogun last represented Nigeria back in 2022 during an absolute demolition job of Sao Tome and Principe. The Super Eagles put a jaw dropping ten unreplied goals past their Central African counterparts in an AFCON qualification tie.
Since then, the 36-year-old defender has failed to make the cut for subsequent squads, mainly due to fitness concerns. Balogun’s two-year absence has given rise to rumours of his retirement from international football but the former Brighton and Hove Albion defender has put the speculations to bed.
“Sorry to be a bit harsh there, maybe, but it’s out there. And I just said it to you myself. Those claims are, how do we like to say nowadays? Fake news,” Balogun stated firmly in an exclusive interview with Flashscore.
The Rangers man, who had to watch from the sidelines as Nigeria battled to a second placed finish at the 2024 AFCON in Ivory Coast, praised the team’s strong defensive displays.
While Balogun admitted his desire to represent the Super Eagles again, he also acknowledged the difficulty of forcing his way back into the squad. The defender however emphasized that competition within the squad is crucial for sustained success.
“They’ve been good. I mean, look at the AFCON. I think they conceded the least goals. So, there’s not much more to add,” Balogun explained.
“Obviously, me wanting to come back into the team doesn’t make it easier. But you need a good level of competition because we’re talking about the Super Eagles and not just any team.
“You’re talking about a team that wants to be the best in Africa. So, it needs to be hard to get into the team.”
Balogun has made 19 appearances for Rangers so far this season, registering a goal and an assist to his name. Whether these numbers will be enough to turn the head of Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle remains to be seen.
