Nigeria international defender Leon Balogun says he is open to the idea of being an ambassador to the team in helping players born abroad to switch nationality when his career winds up, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria have been very active in recruiting players born abroad to play for the senior national team with around seven of them, including those who represented other countries at youth levels presently a part of the team.
New coach of the Nigerian team Eric Chelle is reportedly keen on getting the best players available regardless of where they are born, and Balogun has put himself up in helping out.
Balogun who opt for the senior national team of Nigeria despite being born in Germany laments the fact that Nigeria have lost out on some prospects, who would have helped the team by increasing the options available.
“There’s so much potential, so many players. Look at David Alaba, Manuel Akanji, Michael Olise — players we missed out on — Eze, Saka, and so many others. Still more to come, there’s one guy now at Werder Bremen Felix Agu, so obviously it’s about sending the right messages, making the national team attractive”, he told Ayo Ibidapo in an interview.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who felt at the time I got called up to the national team that this is home, this is my other half calling me to come home, find out who you are. Until that point, I wasn’t in touch too much with my Nigerian identity and I’m still learning now because it has been two years I started actually to learn Yoruba with a teacher which is not easy.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
