Nigeria international, Leon Balogun believes that the traumatic experience of being stoned by Super Eagles fans in 2020 helped him adapt to the intense expectations at Scottish club Rangers.
Balogun was part of the Nigerian squad that faced a shocking 4-4 draw against Sierra Leone in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin-City, Edo State.
After surrendering a 4-0 lead, the team was met with hostility from their own supporters.
Recalling the incident, Balogun recently shared how such experiences shaped his ability to handle pressure both internationally and at the club level.
“No disrespect to our supporters, but no,” Balogun said in an interview with Yahoo Sports.
“I said this not too long ago. I don’t know who to, but playing for the Nigerian national team actually prepared me, because, believe me or not, they probably have just as much expectation as our supporters.”
He continued, recalling the tense atmosphere after the Sierra Leone game:
“I was at Rangers at the time. We played against Sierra Leone. We were winning 4-1, good for me, as I came off after 60 [minutes], and we ended the game 4-4.
“On the way back to the hotel, some of the security staff said don’t sit next to the windows. Some players closed the curtains already.”
“And then five minutes into the drive, you turn the corner, and they throw stones at the bus, our own fans.”
“So, I guess that kind of prepared me.”
“The expectation of Nigeria was always really, really high. So, I’ve met something like it before, and I think that helped me personally.”
The last time Leon Balogun represented the national team was in 2022, earning his 46th cap as a late substitute in Nigeria’s historic 10-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe in an AFCON qualifier.
