Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has admitted that his return to the national team after a lengthy spell with game time was unexpected.
Since his last game for the Eagles in the quarter-final of the 2019 AFCON against South Africa, Balogun, who was loaned by Brighton to Wigan Athletics, played only 135 minutes in seven months.
He revealed to brila.net that the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr had assured him a recall to the team as soon as he was back “to my self”.
“I kept in touch with Coach Gernot Rohr all the time,” said Balogun.
“He assured me that as soon I get back to playing and he can see that am in form and like back to my old self then, I should expect him to call at one point or another.”
“Maybe I didn’t expect it to come that fast, but it makes me even happier and shows they did not forget about me and that they still value me.”
Balogun was one of 24 players invited by Rohr for the 2021 AFCON qualifying tie against Sierra Leone and hopes to help the team continue its winning run.
“Am just happy to be back with the team; come back home to Nigeria because it has been some time,” said the Defender.
“I will embrace it definitely and hopefully I can also have an impact on those two matches in what way ever, we will see that is to be found out.”
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On March 23, Super Eagles who top group L are scheduled to face the Leone Stars in the first-leg of their doubleheader in Asaba, the reverse fixture will hold on March 31 in Freetown.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
