Super Eagles Defender Leon Balogun Speaks for the First Time After Nigeria Fail to Qualify for World Cup

Super Eagles Defender Leon Balogun Speaks for the First Time After Nigeria Fail to Qualify for World Cup

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
  • Leon Balogun has described Nigeria's inability to qualify for the World Cup as his darkest moment ever in his international career
  • Balogun was part of the Super Eagles team that played a 1-1 draw against Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium
  • The result meant Nigeria was knocked out on the away goals rule by the Black Stars after both teams had played a goalless draw in Kumasi

Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun has pleaded for the forgiveness of Nigerians after the Super Eagles failed in their attempt to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria got eliminated from the biggest football competition to be staged in Qatar after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

Super Eagles, Leon Balogun, Nigeria, World Cup, Ghana, Black Stars, Moshood Abiola Stadium
Leon Balogun has pleaded for forgiveness from Nigerians after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the World Cup. Photo by Soccrates Images
Source: Getty Images

Leon Balogun in a post on Instagram revealed that the failure to qualify for the World Cup was the darkest moment in his eight years of playing for the Super Eagles.

"In my 8 years as Super Eagle I have never seen so many hopeful and joyful faces supporting us, pushing us on relentlessly to reach our common goal.
"Everybody tried, everybody wanted to qualify so bad and play at the World Cup 2022 - for the 1st, for another, or one last time. The harder it is to accept that our best, individually as well as collectively, wasn’t good enough to make that happen.
"I will probably always remember this painful exit as my darkest hour with the national team."

The Super Eagles' elimination came as a shock to most supporters as Nigeria was bidding to qualify for a 4th consecutive World Cup.

New Super Eagles invitee apologizes to Nigerians

Meanwhile, Akinkunmi Amoo has apologized to Nigerians and promised the Super Eagles will bounce back stronger after failing to qualify for the World Cup.

According to Soccernet, the new Super Eagles invitee revealed the loss was a learning experience for him despite being disappointed with the result.

Akinkunmi Amoo is yet to make his first cap for the Super Eagles after getting his first call up to the national team in the doubleheader World Cup play-offs against Ghana.

Super Eagles defender congratulates Black Stars players

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Super Eagles and Rangers defender Leon Balogun made an impressive gesture following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The Nigerian defender demonstrated his act of sportsmanship by trooping to the dressing room of the Black Stars to congratulate the Ghanaian contingent for their feat.

Balogun, who was touted as the weakest link in the Nigerian defence, proved his critics wrong by giving a good account of himself alongside skipper William Troost-Ekong.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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