Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has revealed that playing for Nigeria helped him cope with the high demands of playing for Rangers, Soccernet.ng reports.
Balogun was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and a German mother, but he never represented his country of birth at international level.
He made his debut for the Super Eagles in June 2014 and eventually formed a solid partnership with former captain William Troost-Ekong at center-back. That partnership was later nicknamed the “Oyibo wall”.
Friendly match between England and Nigeria Copyright: ImagoxAndyxRowland
The current Aris Limassol man has earned 48 caps for Nigeria, though he has not featured for the national team since 2022.
While he has not officially called time on his international career, it would be a miracle if he were to play for the Super Eagles again.
At club level, the 37-year-old defender has represented several decent sides throughout his career, including top-flight clubs such as Mainz, Brighton, and Scottish giants Rangers.
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However, it was in Glasgow that he made the most significant impact. In fact, the only three trophies of Balogun’s career were all won during his time at Rangers.
As one of the biggest clubs in Scotland, Rangers provided Balogun with his first experience at a team where the bar for success is set exceptionally high.
Nonetheless, the veteran defender admits that his involvement with the Nigerian national team provided the mental toughness necessary to handle those expectations.
What Leon Balogun Said About Playing For Nigeria’s Super Eagles
“I was born in Germany, so I wasn’t in touch with the Nigerian culture like the other boys who grew up in England Alex Iwobi, Lookman, Ola Aina and Kelvin Bassey. You know you have more Nigerians in UK than in Germany,” Balogun said on the Footballers Unfiltered Podcast.
“I remember my first camp, there was big John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and a few other top guys. These were guys I used to see on Play Station.
“There was always that dedication to the country, they would welcome you. It was a really nice time. But at the same time, when things didn’t go well, it was tough.
“Playing for the Super Eagles prepared me for the level of expectation at Rangers because losing is not allowed.
“Basically, you’re Nigeria, the king of Africa, and it doesn’t matter whether there’s Cameroon, Senegal, or Egypt. You just have to win.”
Balogun currently plays for Cypriot club Aris Limassol. He joined them in a free transfer during the summer window. He has featured in 14 games across all competitions this season.