Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has stated that Nigeria should have been dirtier in their last group D encounter of the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Argentina. Balogun was a key member of the Super Eagles team at the World Cup and featured in all three group games for all 90 minutes. With 10 minutes to go, the Super Eagles were level against Argentina which will have seen Nigeria progress to the round of 16 until Marcos Rojo scored.
In a report by the BBC Sport, Balogun revealed a little bit dark arts and trickery will have seen the Super Eagles in the next round. He said, “It’s always important when you play internationals to be a bit dirty. “That’s what Argentina has, definitely, and you also need to be cold-blooded – that’s probably the most important (lesson from this World Cup).”
He said, “It will be very important to keep going the way we have started.
“We have experienced players, young players, talented players – and there are even more players that are not in the team yet – and we have to keep developing them and investing in their football education.
“We just have to keep working and keep our focus on advancing year after year and then in the next four years we will have a good team – maybe an even better one.”
Balogun who recently signed with Brighton and Hove Albion will aim to regroup with the Super Eagles when they take on Seychelles on Friday, September 7 in a 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.