Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr says at no time did he close the doors of the senior national team of Nigeria on newly signed Wigan Athletics defender Leon Balogun.
Balogun has not played for Nigeria since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where he was relegated to the role of third choice center defender behind the duo of Kenneth Omeruo and William Troost-Ekong.
His formidable partnership with Ekong which was nicknamed the “Oyibo Wall ” appears to be history with Semi Ajayi now building something similar with Balogun’s former partner in keeping attackers at bay for the Super Eagles.
However that partnership could return in the nearest future with Rohr pleased with the decision of Balogun to go on loan to Wigan Athletics from Brighton and Hove Albion where he was frozen out of the picture since the start of the season.
At Wigan, Balogun has so far distinguished himself and that has now put him in the frame for a return to the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their upcoming games in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and also that of the 2022 World Cup as well.
” Balogun is a part of the group but he wasn’t playing due to injury and other issues at his former club. He is back playing now and that has made us happy. We’ll always call up players who are regulars and he is getting games at Wigan”, Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.
“He has valuable experience that the team will need and his return to playing games means we now have competition in the area he is playing and it’s good for the team”.
