Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Andrew Aikhoumogbe has urged the Super Eagles manager, Jose Peseiro to woo Reims striker, Folarin Balogun to the senior national team to bolster the team’s attack.
Recall that last year, the England youth international, admitted that he’s open to playing for Nigeria if the NFF invites him despite being eligible for two other countries.
The 21-year-old is currently enjoying his spell in the Ligue 1 with Reims, scoring 10 goals and providing 2 assists in 16 games.
Under FIFA rules, in-form Balogun would be free to switch to represent the Super Eagles because he has not played for the England senior side competitively.
However, in an interview with Completesports.com, Aikhoumogbe stated that the NFF and Peseiro should grab the chance of convincing Balogun to play for the senior national team ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“If you ask me, bringing Balogun to the senior national team fold will definitely bolster the Super Eagles. He will be a great addition and will create stiff competition in the Super Eagles attack.
“No doubt, Balogun will compliment Osimhen’s effort in the attack and of course, Nigerians should be expecting goals from all angles once the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers resume.”
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COMMENTS
PRESENTLY NIGERIA HAVE VERY YOUNG BEST UNDER AGE FOREIGN BORN & NIGERIA-BORN PLAYERS IN EUROPEAN LEAGUE NOW THAN THE TIME OF AGHAHOWA AND MIKEL. NFF SHOULD TRY TO INVITE THEM, BLENDED THEM TOGETHER WITH LOCAL BOYS TO U-20 & U-23 TEAM. NFF SHOULD TRY TO TO TAKE U-20 & U-23 TEAM VERY SERIOUSLY THIS TIME AROUND BY QUALIFY FOR U-20 WORLD CUP & OLYMPIC GAME. THIS WILL SERVES AS A BETTER PLATFORM FOR SUPER EAGLE COACH TO SELECT & PICK BETTER PLAYERS FOR SENIOR TEAM. AND IT WILL ALSO SERVES AS A BETTER PLATFORM TO ACCESS THE PERFORMANCE OF EACH PLAYERS BEFORE THEY FINALLY GET PROMOTED TO SUPER EAGLE.
FOR INSTANCE: JUST LIKE
*** BABAYARO, KANU, ORUMA, MOBI, DOSU IN ATLANTA ’96.
*** AGHAHOWA,YOBO, IKEDIA IN NIGERIA’99.
*** TAYE TAIWO, MIKEL, OBASI, APAM, KAITA, NSOFOR IN 2005 U-20 WORLD CUP & OLYMPIC 2008.
NFF SHOULD TAKE U-20 & U-23 TEAM SERIOUSLY IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE FUTURE OF SUPER EAGLE TEAM.
Next is akpoborie and then dosu and back to aghaowa
Thought Deo and I are the only ones who noticed this pattern.
Only GENERAL ROAH has that WOOING SPIRIT..
If it’s HIM, only ONE PHONE CALL of 30 SECONDS is ENOUGH to CONVINCE BALOGUN.
That’s WHY we all MISS him…
That Balogun would be a very good addition to the super eagles with what l have seen in his games recently.
It is will also be very nice to talk to Nd invite Jordan Torunarigha of Gent to help bolster our defence line after the recent talk with Tosin Adebariayo of Fulham FC and that other young defender( l am forgetting his name) in the ltalian seria A. In our midfield, Ovie Ejaria nd Alhassan Yusuf are very much needed too to complement nd form a good competition with Ndidi, Onyedika nd co.and finally, Okonkwo of Crewe Alexandria in our goalkeeping department.
Pls, our coach and Eguavoen shouldn”t concentrate all their efforts only on England based players for nationality switch or invitation bt must have to spread their search on players based elsewhere too. They must have to ask fast and smart too bt not only on the pages of the newspapers(if at all needed now) and that’s if we are really very serious concerning woeing nd convincing any good player(s) these days.
Thanks nd God bless Nigeria.
Ifeanyi
During the era of Mikel , Emmanuel Emenike was the leader in SE attack, Mikel himself was the leader in midfield, While Kenneth Omeru was the leader in defence and Vincent Eyeama leader in Goal.The cardinal problem faced by the present set of SE s
is that they lack a leader in all departments except In attack where Osihmen though young is the leader. Indeed , there is so much work to be done by the present Coach in terms of bringing in players in every department that can be dependable and act as the pillar and leader in that department in terms of passion, commitment and ability. Until we begin to see SE through the lenses of this paradigm , the team might continue to perform in a merry go round.