Super Eagles and Rangers defender, Leon Aderemi Balogun, was omitted from Eric Chelle's 39-man provisional squad list ahead of their World Cup qualifiers this month, Soccernet.ng reports.
Jose Peseiro didn’t select the 36-year-old to be a part of the Super Eagles team at the AFCON 2023 tournament. His last game for the National Team was in Nigeria’s 10-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe in June 2022, where he came off the bench for the final nineteen minutes.
Balogun didn’t get a lot of games under his belt last season but has repaid faith in his manager’s decision to keep him at Rangers for another year, and recently came out to reveal he still wants to play for Nigeria if the opportunity comes up.
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This season, the former Brighton and Hove Albion defender has played 20 games for the Gers, more than he managed for the entirety of last season. He’s also managed to come up with a goal and assist for the Scottish Record Champions.
However, Eric Chelle opted for William Troost-Ekong, Gabriel Osho, Calvin Bassey, Igoh Ogbu, Jordan Torunarigha, and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi.
Should Chelle have picked Balogun?
The Germany-born Nigerian is passionate about donning the Super Eagles jersey, and his 46 caps for the three-time AFCON Champions is a testament to that. While many tipped him to be Semi Ajayi‘s replacement, Balogun didn't make the list. Bar Ekong and Onyebuchi, the defenders in Chelle's list, play in Europe.
“It’s not that I’ve not accepted an invitation ever. Unfortunately, right before the World Cup break, I suffered an injury that was supposed to last a few weeks but didn’t go the way it was supposed to. I just couldn’t come I was not fit yet and after I got fit, I relapsed, but since then, I haven’t had a lengthy injury spell.
“I have always been available. I’ve never said that I retired from international football, and I think the people who need to know are aware that I’m still very much willing and ambitious to represent the national team,” Balogun said as previously reported by Soccernet.ng.
Balogun has missed about two months accumulatively for Rangers this season due to injuries. While he's played 20 games this season, he's started just 10 of those. In the ten games the former QPR man played, he only played 90 minutes six times.
Without a doubt, it'll be disappointing for Balogun to miss out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers squad, considering he returned from an injury just in time.
However, he can bask in the knowledge that if he never plays for Nigeria again, his name will forever be in the Super Eagles history books, loved by many, especially for his “Oyinbo” defensive partnership with William Troost-Ekong. The pair played 38 games together.
