Leon Balogun has become the first player to speak publicly that the Super Eagles are owed bonuses, while also giving his own explanation to why the home-based players have struggled to impress.
The Super Eagles have not been paid a dime for the 2020 AFCON qualifiers, where they won four and drew two matches.
“It’s not a secret (unpaid bonuses) even and then I have read something recently when people in charge they contradict themselves, said things have been paid, then they admit they haven’t been paid,” the outspoken Balogun said in a podcast monitored by SCORENigeria
“It’s like everybody is so concerned about the look of Nigeria, we have to represent Nigeria well and we cannot embarrass Nigeria, but make sure you are not embarrassing Nigeria with your own action.”
Balogun said he has not been afraid to make his point known.
“If I feel something is wrong, I might at one point talk just about it and then they will always be like, okay this boy is a trouble maker, but I am not a trouble maker because at the end of the day I stand in for my teammates,” he defended.
There has been a clamour for players who play their football at home to be handed a better chance in the Super Eagles.
But Balogun said it will be a tough ask because the home-based players do not have the best possibilities to excel.
“Why are the local players not performing in the Super Eagles? We have to be honest because the infratructure like pitches are not there. We are not provided with the best materials to do our job,” he explained.
I applaud him for his candor and clarity about the sorry state of affairs in the Super Eagles which is a microcosm of Nigeria. I don’t know if I would have represented Nigeria in anything. Certainly, I would discourage my kids or anyone whom I can influence from doing so.
Sir,by God’s grace, Nigeria would be a better country very soon… And I hope by the time that happens, you will be able to influence those you are able to influence,to represent Nigeria. May God help us all. God bless Nigeria!