Brighton & Hove Albion of England defender, Leon Aderemi Balogun has received an all-clear from his club to star for the Super Eagles against Seychelles on Friday, as The Seagulls say the stopper is injury free.
Although there were initial fears that Balogun might not be fit to play in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, due to a recent bout with muscle complaints, his club coach, Chris Hughton says the mulatto defender is good to go.
Sports247.ng gathered that the confirmation, which cleared the way for the former Fortuna Dusseldorf, SV Darmstadt and SV Mainz of Germany star to line out alongside his Oyibo Wall partner, William Troost-Ekong, was issued by Hughton during a general assessment of his players.
Not only is Hughton tipping Balogun to play against Seychelles in Friday’s final qualifier, he is also of a view that the lad should be good to go against Egypt in an international friendly four days later at same venue.
This is despite the fact that Balogun has managed only two appearances in Cup games, from a possible 14 in all competitions this year, due to a shoulder injury and he is now third-choice central defender at Brighton.
That means Balogun could be short match stability, with his last game for Brighton being over a month ago, against West Bromwich Albion in the Emirates FA Cup on February 6.
However, it is a different case in the national team, as Balogun has gone the distance in seven of the last eight Super Eagles’ matches, though he was not present for a goalless draw against Uganda in an international friendly at the same venue of Friday’s match against Seychelles.
Nonetheless, he could now be heading for another outing in the green-and-white, after Hughton said: “Leon Balogun is going on international duty with Nigeria and we’re hoping he plays both matches.”
