Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has expressed his desire to play for the Nigerian national team again, indicating that he misses the opportunity to represent the nation due to the love from fans and togetherness in the dressing room.
Balogun, born to a Nigerian father and German mother, made his debut for the Super Eagles in a 2014 friendly against Mexico. He was also part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, playing every minute of the team’s three games.
The experienced defender has made 46 appearances for the Nigerian national team but has not featured since 2022 in a 10-0 win against São Tomé and Principe. In a recent interview with Ayodele Olu Ibidapo on his YouTube channel, Leon Balogun opened up about his feelings: “I miss the vibes basically. The atmosphere is indescribable,” he said.
Balogun revealed that adapting to the team’s culture was initially challenging due to his German upbringing, but he eventually embraced it: “It was not super easy for me because I had to get used to it as my other side is German and they’re very strict, but once I understood, I just wanted to enjoy life with the team.”
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He highlighted the unique blend of discipline and enjoyment in the team: “It’s not just about things you do outside football, even things in there. I’ve learnt through the national team that when it’s training and game time, it’s no-nonsense. But around it, they taught me to sometimes let go a little bit more.”
Balogun also emphasized the impact of the team’s bond and fan support: “You’re still there to compete but it’s almost like a little escape because of the way it makes you feel over there and that goes hand-in-hand with the people.”
He fondly recalled the recognition and admiration he received from Nigerians while playing for the national team: “Asides from in the stadium, if you’re walking, there’s loads of Nigerians and sometimes they recognize you. That together is something I’ve missed in the past two and a half, three years.”
With his impressive form for Rangers, Balogun will be hoping to regain a call-up to the Super Eagles for the first time since 2022, ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers in March.
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