Leon Balogun: was it appropriate for him to congratulate Ghana players immediately?
Super Eagles impressive center defender Leon Balogun, whose international football days are now slowly winding down due to creeping age, took to social media to express his sadness on how the team's efforts weren't adequate in clinching a world cup berth.
Nigeria narrowly missed out on world cup qualification due to a noxious and extremely out of date away goals rule despite holding Ghana to an impressive 1:1 aggregate score line in March.
"The harder it is to accept that our best, individually as well as collectively, wasn’t good enough to make world cup qualification happen – even more so given the (intense and ageless) rivalry [between Nigeria and Ghana].” Said Balogun.
Despite the intense rivalry, Balogun is currently fêted in Ghanaian media for being magnanimous in defeat after being pictured congratulating Ghana players in their dressing room after the infamous Abuja encounter.
This gesture has attracted mixed response from the Super Eagles fan base, some of whom frowned at it for two reasons: 1) the rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana; and 2) the monumental disappointment of missing out on the world cup.
Other Nigeria fans praise Balogun for his chivalry, maturity and willingness to mend fences rather than perpetuate bitterness that has accompanied the Nigeria - Ghana rivalry over the years
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