Leon Balogun denies Super Eagles exit rumours

By Olaolu Joseph

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has swiftly dismissed rumours of his retirement from international football.

The veteran centre-back, who has endured an injury-plagued season at Ibrox, has reaffirmed his commitment to the Nigerian national team despite losing his regular spot in the Super Eagles lineup.

Balogun, who debuted for Nigeria against Mexico in March 2014, has been a key player alongside former Watford star William Troost-Ekong for several years.

He played a vital role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and their third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

In an exclusive interview with Flashscore, he stated, “These claims are false. I think I clarified this recently. I apologize if I come off as harsh, but the information is out there. Those claims are, how do we say nowadays? Fake news.”

Balogun lost his starting spot to West Brom defender Semi Ajayi during Nigeria’s match against Ivory Coast last year when former head coach Jose Peseiro adopted a new strategy.