The duo of Leon Balogun and John Ogu may be dropped from the Super Eagles as head coach of the side, Gernot Rohr looks set to bring in fresh and talented players into the team following their campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, reports Completesports.com.
The Super Eagles defeated Tunisia 1-0 in the Third-Place match on Wednesday at the Al Salam Stadium.
Balogun, once a regular in the team lost his place to Kenneth Omeruo and started only two of Nigeria’s seven games in Egypt.
The 31-year-old also featured sparingly for his English Premier League club, Brighton & Hove Albion last season.
Ogu, who has remained a fringe player in the team since making his debut for the Super Eagles in March 2013, is another player who may not earn a callup to the team again.
The 31-year-old made just one single appearance for the Super Eagles at Egypt 2019. He started the game against Madagascar but was substituted at halftime.
“There is the possibility of Ogu and Balogun not getting invited to the team again. Both of them are not getting younger, and besides, are not indispensable in the team,” a reliable source close to the team informed Completesports.com.
“This coach is eager to bring in young but quality players into the team, especially the midfield and these two may be dropped from the team going forward.”
By Adeboye Amosu (photos: by Ganiyu Yusuf) In Cairo
20 Comments
Balogun is still relevant and is purely 31 unlike John ogu who is surely not 31 should be approaching 40.
Mikel and ogu have done well for the team and should gloriously retire. They are indeed no longer indispensable.
We are lucky to have a good who knows what to do to make the team better.
I can’t wait to see Mikel agu and azubeike integrated into the team.
We are really blessed with an avalanche of talents the future is so bright.
Personally I think akpeyi, mikel, onuachu and ogu don’t have any more business with the team. We need more young and talented prayers to take their positions respectively.
Let me add by commending completesport for improving this site, I can see some new additions,and hopefully more will follow. They deserve some accolades.
Some times some people talk foolishly.
Mikel Agu?
To which team.
Where are the nwakali brothers?
Some this is indeed wrong with some pipos thinking!
The Nwakali brothers are struggling in Europe.Yes he’s right Mikel Agu had a good season and did excel in his role in one of our friendlies prior to the nations cup and do not forget he was listed among players to come in as a replacement should a player selected get injured preparatory to the Afcon.So he’s an integral part of the team and a player who has impressed the gaffer.
Nwakali brothers are good players but they have to settle down in a good club side before they can be invited.
Super eagles is not a rehabitation ground for any player they need to prove themselves in a club.. Unlike Mikel agu who plays regularly and has done well the few times he played for the team
John Ogu, Onuachu Can GO!! BALOGUN for Me is A NO! for now. At least one more tournament where his passion and experience can benefit the country.
Fresh blood: MIKEL Agu- For those that watched Nigeria Vs Uganda friendly before AFCON where Agu replaced Ndidi due to injury and he played marvellously to show he has improved with regular game time at Club level. We also have Semi Ajayi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Nwakali Brothers(only if they have a club they play regularly in).
Lastly, Coach Gernot Rohr must be retained if we like ourselves and improvement of the Super Eagles. The only change I will welcome is if Gernot Rohr can change some of his Technical crew.
Dropping Balogun? Is that a joke? Who says Balogun is older than most of the other players there. No doubting d ages of Nigerian players born in abroad, we all know that ain’t we? The rest I don’t wanna say. Balogun only need to play regularly,stay fit n is super needed in d SE. Or are we kidding? we have been singing our team is only a young team. Is it now they getting matured, that we going to start bringing in “younger” players just so we can carry on singing that same chorus forever. Please it’s high time we got serious n know what we want. Balogun still got at least 3 more years of international football in him. Only him can decide if he is still motivated to carry on.
Its always when the age factor is used against Balogun,the funny thing is that Omeruo,Shehu and Awaziem are older than Balogun but no call for their retirement.All i pray for him is to get a club that will give him regular action.he remains one of our best defenders..as for Ogu he long overstayed his welcome cos we always had better midfielders who were ignored
Abeg comot Awaziem from your mouth. Awaziem is a kid. Can’t say for Omeruo and Shehu.
These players; Jordan Ibe, good low centre of gravity for a midfielder, with very good shots,that’s if he agrees to switch, Ufom udoh,one good home based, that’s if he doesn’t turn foreign soon, Nwakali brothers,but must get themselves playing regularly for a club, Iofa Dominic, Odubajo Moses,n this guy called Cyriel Dresser etc. They should be given a look-in in some friendlies, primarily for new players that can give serious fight to d already regulars,who should be made to stay away from such friendlies.
And if the coach doesn’t invite any of these players then what?
I hope you understand d difference between suggesting n imposing. Hoping u do understand, I m only suggesting. The coach has last say on players invitation n his decision must be supported.
Balogun for now is still an asset, his experience is still needed for now, his club performance will determine though
Balogun is a solid defender.Against Guinea was a class and not too long was impressive against Egypt.
I can understand why his future in the team is becoming a topic though by the press do not think Rohr is involved in this.
Against Madagascar I think Ogu should be blamed for that bad pass to Balogun which led to their first goal.That error alone is not enough to start questioning Balogun’s future in the team.
In my opinion his services is indeed needed for the forseable future.
John Ogu has been content with fringe role in the Super Eagles and at a football age of 31, its time to call it quits from international soccer. In fact the technical does not have to invite a player who can push for a start and make the berth in midfield options competitive.
As for Leon Balogun, he is still very relevant and about the most refined centre backs we have in the Super Eagles. Signing for Brighton where an already existing centre back partnership was strong, is where his lack of playing time cost him. Different strokes for different folks as Omeruo struck a very rich vein of form at.Leganese to become Nigeria’s most inform CBs. Balogun did nothing wrong just.that with Udinese’s regular Ekong and Omeruo fitter and in form, it looked as if he no longer has it. One reason I have respect for Rihr.is that he has brought that competitiveness for position in the team. No body has automatic shirt and gone are the days when you’re fielded based on who you are but how consistent you are performing in top club in Europe. Consider his decision to drop Iheanacho before AFCON. I wouldn’t think a home based coach could do.that. They may not start him, but to drop him entirely is a different thing. Balogun is Rohr’s favorite defender but had to give way for fitter and inform Omeruo. That’s proffessionalism without bias.
Moving on, I really missed the quality and finesse of our finest right back or right wing back, Tyrone Ebuehi. I was pained realizing he couldn’t recover on time for the AFCON. His presence would have made a massive difference. I also think we don’t need to write off Onuachu too soon as the AFCON didn’t favor him. Eagles didn’t.play to his strength and you don’t blame his inexperience considering he had only 2 caps before a major tourney. He is a proven goalscorer and a marksmen who offers something differently. Integrating into the Super Eagles more would help bring the best out of him. That also means same for Simy Nwankwo we took to World Cup too.
Finding a replacement for Mikel would be a herculean but achievable task. It would only require these younger players to step up and be counted. They should grow more into responsibility. Ndidi and Etebo are good players but have to grow into leadership roles. That’s also a major problem with Iwobi. He blows hot and cold. He has to improve himself. It will be dangerous, after the exit of Mikel for Iwobi not to have competition in that attacking midfield role. The Nwakali brothers are exceptional talents and are long overdue for the senior team, but this problem of Nigerian players not pushing themselves to the limit is why they are where they are. The brothers should seek for clubs where they will get regular actions and exposure. Usman Muhammed that played in Rio Olympics and scored against Athletico Madrid is a fine player wasting away somewhere in the lower league of turkey. These.boys need not get comfortable or satisfied with the status quo. Azubuike Okechukwu and Mikel Agu sure do have a place in this team if the maintain consistency. They are very good holding midfielders but I’m particularly impressed with Azubuike’s positional sense and passing range. Time to inject fresh blood and retain experience. God bless Super.Eagles
Great analysis boss
Balogun still Has a lot to offer. He needs more playing time at club football. Balogun was born in Germany so it was difficult reducing his age. He is younger than some of our so called young players.
The goalkeeping section also needs reinforcement-Maduka, Okonkwo(Arsenal reserve team keeper) and Alampasu comes to Mind.In the Defense Ebuehi coming back will be a huge boost but I feel Balogun still deserves more time in the SE.Stephen Eze should also get another chance so we could see what he can do.
In the Midfield, with the retirement of Mikel and I feel Ogu should follow suit, we have two places to fill, Semi Ajayi, Azubike and Kelechi Nwakali comes to Mind.
Then in the Attack, with rumours of Ighalos retirement, I feel Onuachu,Should be given more time to gel into this team.Same goes for Simy Nwankwo. I also will love Cyril Dessers, Chuba Akpom, Bazee,handed invitations.
The idea of Balogun retiring definitely ranks as one of the worst football ideas that I’ve ever had the displeasure of experiencing! Retire a skilled, experienced defender at the peak of his physical power, because of a bad day at the office? Are you kidding me? Well, we as a country are getting quite adept at SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT, if I may say so myself. If we want to prematurely retire Balogun, we shouldn’t just stop with him. We might as well retire the whole team, including the likes of Chukwueze and Osimhen, and then replace them with the SAMBISA ELEVEN!
Unless Balogun himself wishes to throw in the towel (in which case we will have no choice but to accept and thank him for his service), Balogun remains an integral part of this team!
Gernot Rohr should think fast and bring in young players into the team most especially as the afcon 2021 qualifiers will start by November so we sure need them around the earlier the better. The likes of Anderson Esiti, Azubuike Okechukwu and Mikel Agu had good game time last season in the DM role especially d likes of Esiti and Azubuike. At that number 10 role he has to give kingsley Sokari of cs sfxian of Tunisia a chance as well as Obinna Nwobodo who plies for Ujpest of Hungary. Mr. Rohr has gone to 2 big tournaments now and should have learnt one simple lesson “their must be competition of shirts in the team” without such u can’t get the best from this guys, u will always think they will give u d best but when the chips are down u’l b amazed. Wilson Oruma was so good but never come closed to jay-jay Okocha due to how okocha was always upcoming his game. At the centre half will have to call back Stephen Eze and Semi Ajayi back, they had a good time last season as well with alot of game yet they where overlooked. Mr. Rohr must learn how to bring in healthy competition of shirts in the team if he really wants the best of his boys. As for the goalkeepers truth be told we don’t have any plying his trade in any well known league in Europe. So with that the best he should do is to start looking for them back home the likes of lobi stars Olufemi Kayode, nasarawa utd Suraj Ayeleso, yobe stars goalie Mustapha Aliko and newbie in the league Amos Obasogie of Insuarance fc. If opportunities aren’t given to them back home w’l keep having mediocre goal minders instead of our nff going after goalies like Arthur Okonkwo of Arsenal, Sebastien Osigwe of kriens of Switzerland and Maduka Okoye of fortuna duseldolf of Germany who are still playing in the lower leagues of their clubs.