A dream to play at the World Cup, a fading Germany International cap and a call from Stephen Keshi were the factors that fast tracked Leon Balogun’s decision to switch allegiance.
Balogun made his international debut aged 26 and coming on as a sub in a friendly against Mexico just before the World Cup.
In an interview with DW Kick Off, the Center Back said his chances of playing for Germany at the time were pretty slim with a catalog of top players ahead in the pecking order.
Former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi put a call through to the Berlin-born player after several impressive reviews in the Press.
The player recalls the phone call in the interview saying, “In 2014; the beginning of the year he first called me, I picked up the phone and I heard his call, it was calm.
“Balogun, do You know who this is? I said no, who is this. And he said Stephen Keshi, how are you my Son?
” I was like wow, it’s about to go down.”
The rest they say is history, but one that started off on a very sad note after the defender broke his foot on his international debut – just 20 minutes after coming on as a sub.
But today, the 29-year-old is looking forward to his debut World Cup appearance after helping the Super Eagles qualify for Russia 2018.
Nigeria will face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in group D.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
