The fine performance of Leon Balogun in Nigeria’s back to back World Cup 2018 Qualifiers hasn’t gone unnoticed as it has lead to talks about his current club Mainz 05.
Balogun was the only defender who made the CAF best XI players during the course of Matchday 3 and 4 of the CAF World Cup 2018 Qualifiers, thanks to his fine display in back to back games for Nigeria against Cameroon.
Patrick Jean who covered the games between Nigeria and Cameroon on behalf of a media outfit in Cameroon says the defender will easily pass as the best in Africa, and wondered why he is at Mainz 05.
” He ‘s 29 from what I found out, safe to say he is a late bloomer but I saw a defender who can easily pass as the best in Africa at the moment. In both games against Cameroon he was immense”, Jean told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” How and why top clubs didn’t spot his potential early amazes me. He is to me a quicker version of Rio Ferdinand in his prime. His distribution from the back is faultless and the way he times his tackles especially in the box is something else.
” I asked a Nigerian journalist what Balogun is doing at Mainz 05? because I honestly believe he should be playing for a team bigger than that judging by his qualities with all due respect to Mainz 05 “.
Osas Mahawi
