The defender has impressed as Mainz remain on course for a European place next season; have Nigeria found an heir to Yobo?
It was in March 2014, with the World Cup on the horizon, and Stephen Keshi seeking solutions, that Leon Balogun finally made his bow for the Super Eagles. Touted as a solution to a right-back problem that had seen Efe Ambrose act as a stopgap with varying degrees of success, a kind of permanent placeholder, Nigeria could not wait to unwrap its newest gift.
What followed was a freak injury after barely a quarter of an hour, ruling him out of contention for the big show in Brazil. It is a theme that has replayed itself over and again since then though: the Mainz defender missed out on September’s drab stalemate away to Tanzania, then produced a performance of consummate assurance in October’s friendly trouncing of Cameroon, only to crumple again and miss the two-legged rollercoaster against Swaziland.
If he seemed eternally destined to be the bridesmaid, such fears have been largely dispelled by a series of excellent displays in the Bundesliga with Mainz. Led by Martin Schmidt, Karnevalsverein sit in fifth, level on points with Borussia Monchengladbach, who currently occupy the Champions League play-off spot, after 23 games, and have prospered with Balogun pairing Stefan Bell at the heart of the defence.
Balogun shone in the recent defeat to Hoffenheim, leading the game in ball recoveries (seven) and interceptions (four), while also being Mainz’s second most prolific passer. It was a majestic performance, even more impressive in the absence of regular partner Bell.
Against Bayer Leverkusen this weekend, Mainz returned to winning ways, picking up a 3-1 victory that keeps them firmly in the hunt for an unlikely UCL spot.
It was just the latest in a series of star turns at the Coface Arena outfit. The player has admitted previously his preference for playing at centre-back, and with his rangy style and keen sense of positioning, he is looking very much accomplished in the role.
There is some irony to the fact that, having been hailed so long as the answer to the Super Eagles problems at right-back, it is at centre-back that the lanky 27-year-old is playing his best football. However, there can be no doubt now that this is where he ought to be deployed for the national side; his ease on the ball, a legacy of loping forward from full-back, provides an added dimension in the build-up phase, as does his tidy passing.
In a way, he did fill a void, albeit not the one most had anticipated: that of a proper leader at the heart of the Super Eagles defence. Kenneth Omeruo is rediscovering his best form at Kasimpasa, but has not started a game for the national team since September. William Troost-Ekong has come on in leaps since making his debut against Chad in June, but question marks remain over his experience and quality. Godfrey Oboabona’s slide in form in national team colours was clear for all too see against Swaziland.
Ambrose remains Ambrose, and consistency is his bane, swinging from the sublime to the incredulous. It is clear: Balogun has developed into Nigeria’s best centre-back.
Shehu Abdullahi has held down the forte for the last couple of games, following Solomon Kwambe’s (remember him?) featherweight display away in Tanzania. Moses Odubajo continues to impress with Championship side Hull City, and is well worth a look at this point. A modern, attacking full-back with bags of pace, he would, as an erstwhile winger, bring a thrust previously lacking, as well as balancing out the less adventurous Elderson Echiejile on the opposite flank should the AS Monaco man retain his spot in the side.
What followed was a freak injury after barely a quarter of an hour, ruling him out of contention for the big show in Brazil. It is a theme that has replayed itself over and again since then though: the Mainz defender missed out on September’s drab stalemate away to Tanzania, then produced a performance of consummate assurance in October’s friendly trouncing of Cameroon, only to crumple again and miss the two-legged rollercoaster against Swaziland.
If he seemed eternally destined to be the bridesmaid, such fears have been largely dispelled by a series of excellent displays in the Bundesliga with Mainz. Led by Martin Schmidt, Karnevalsverein sit in fifth, level on points with Borussia Monchengladbach, who currently occupy the Champions League play-off spot, after 23 games, and have prospered with Balogun pairing Stefan Bell at the heart of the defence.
Balogun shone in the recent defeat to Hoffenheim, leading the game in ball recoveries (seven) and interceptions (four), while also being Mainz’s second most prolific passer. It was a majestic performance, even more impressive in the absence of regular partner Bell.
Against Bayer Leverkusen this weekend, Mainz returned to winning ways, picking up a 3-1 victory that keeps them firmly in the hunt for an unlikely UCL spot.
It was just the latest in a series of star turns at the Coface Arena outfit. The player has admitted previously his preference for playing at centre-back, and with his rangy style and keen sense of positioning, he is looking very much accomplished in the role.
There is some irony to the fact that, having been hailed so long as the answer to the Super Eagles problems at right-back, it is at centre-back that the lanky 27-year-old is playing his best football. However, there can be no doubt now that this is where he ought to be deployed for the national side; his ease on the ball, a legacy of loping forward from full-back, provides an added dimension in the build-up phase, as does his tidy passing.
In a way, he did fill a void, albeit not the one most had anticipated: that of a proper leader at the heart of the Super Eagles defence. Kenneth Omeruo is rediscovering his best form at Kasimpasa, but has not started a game for the national team since September. William Troost-Ekong has come on in leaps since making his debut against Chad in June, but question marks remain over his experience and quality. Godfrey Oboabona’s slide in form in national team colours was clear for all too see against Swaziland.
Ambrose remains Ambrose, and consistency is his bane, swinging from the sublime to the incredulous. It is clear: Balogun has developed into Nigeria’s best centre-back.
Shehu Abdullahi has held down the forte for the last couple of games, following Solomon Kwambe’s (remember him?) featherweight display away in Tanzania. Moses Odubajo continues to impress with Championship side Hull City, and is well worth a look at this point. A modern, attacking full-back with bags of pace, he would, as an erstwhile winger, bring a thrust previously lacking, as well as balancing out the less adventurous Elderson Echiejile on the opposite flank should the AS Monaco man retain his spot in the side.
Another option is young Kingsley Ehizibue with Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle. He is another in a similar mould, a front-foot player who has even occasionally figured on the wing.
However, he remains young enough to imbibe the more quotidian concerns of defending, and is intelligent in his decision-making—not a quality one might typically ascribe to a 20-year-old.
However, with a make-or-break double-header against Egypt on the horizon, either of these two would represent a significant risk, having not earned their spurs with the national team yet. Not since Chidi Odiah faded out of the picture half a decade ago has Nigeria had an established and natural right-back. With the erstwhile heir to the throne firmly entrenched elsewhere, it appears the position that no one seems to want.
Hello, my name is Godwin Brain. I'm an ICT Analyst, blogger, web-designer and a writer. 
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