Make national team attractive, Balogun challenges NFF

Defender Leon Balogun has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to make the Super Eagles more attractive after missing out on several talented players with dual nationality.

Speaking to Ayodele Olu Ibidapo, German-born Balogun reflected on his Nigerian roots and urged the NFF to do more to attract top dual-national players to the Super Eagles, stating that the federation has lost out on many talented players.

“There is so much talent. Look at David Alaba, Manuel Akanji, Michael Olise, we missed out on them. Eze, Saka, and many others too,” Balogun said.

“There are still more players coming through. There’s one now at Werder Bremen, Felix Agu. So, it is about sending the right message and making the national team more attractive.

“When I got called up, I felt this was home, my other half calling me to come and discover who I really am.

“Before then, I wasn’t very connected to my Nigerian roots. I’m still learning, and for the past two years, I have been taking Yoruba lessons, which is not easy,” he said.