Inactivity at club level has caught up with Brighton & Hove Albion of England defender, Leon Aderemi Balogun in the Nigerian national team, as he missed a place in the Super Eagles’s starting line-up for Friday’s last Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles.
Sports247.ng reports that Balogun, who has dropped to number three in the central defence perking order at Brighton and only recently returned from injury, was not deemed fit enough to make a start at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Balogun, an erstwhile prominent part of the Eagles’ ‘Oyibo Wall’ in central defence, alongside William Troost-Ekkong, was about the only regular who was axed by Gernot Rohr for Friday’s game.
While leaving out Balogun, Rohr kept Troost-Ekong in central defence alongside in-form Leganes of Spain stopper, Kenneth Omeruo, while Anorthosis Famagusta of Cyprus goalkeeper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho got the nod for his 13th international appearance in the starting 11.
Fiormer Famagusta defender, Abdullahi Shehu, who is now plying his trade with Bursaspor of Turkey, returned to the Eagles’ starting line-up at right-back, with Germany-based Jamilu Collins at left-back.
Stoke City’s Oghenekaro Etebo also put injury woes behind him to start in midfield with Leicester City star, Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi, who is back after serving a match ban due to accumulated cards.
Stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa took over on the right side of midfield, Alex Iwobi in the hole as playmaker and in-form Galatasaray of Turkey ace, Henry Onyekuru down the left, while Odion Jude Ighalo led attack.
