Leon Balogun has admitted that Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was heartbreaking but he has moved on from the disappointment.
The Super Eagles were ousted by Ghana’s Black Stars on the away goal rule in the playoff round, after a 1-1 draw in Abuja which followed a 0-0 stalemate in Kumasi.
Balogun spoke to the media ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 Nations Cup qualification games against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe. The former Rangers centre-half said failure to qualify for the Word Cup is behind the team now as they aim to get off to the perfect start in the qualification campaign.
“That’s behind us now. I played for my club four days after the game against Ghana, so it’s football. It goes on. There is no time to feel sorry for yourself,” Balogun told reporters.
“Obviously it hurts not to be at the World Cup, but you have to move on. Like they say, time heals old wounds. You have to move on because the next match is always around the corner.”
Balogun also revealed what it’s like to work under Jose Peseiro: “It’s exciting to be here, to work under a new manager. To see what he [Peseiro] comes up with. The fresh air he brings to the team. I have only been here for two days, so it is a bit too early to make any kind of assessment. He has been nice, very friendly. He is trying to get used to what Nigeria is about.”
Nigeria threw away a 4-0 first half lead to draw 4-4 against Sierra Leone the last time they hosted the Leone Stars. Balogun, 33, said Nigeria have learnt their lessons from that encounter and won’t underestimate their West African counterparts.
“That’s in the past, there is no point revisiting that. The lesson is not to underestimate any opponent. Sure they will come with a different team, but we will do our best to win the game,” he concluded.
The Super Eagles will face the Leone Stars on Thursday, June 9, at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium in Abuja to begin their Group A qualification campaign. They will meet Sao Tome and Principe four days later at the Adrar Stadium in Morocco.
