Leon Balogun Admits Tanzania Clash Is A World Cup Qualifier Dress Rehearsal

Mainz 05 stopper Leon Balogun is looking forward to stepping out onto the Akwa Ibom International Stadium pitch on Saturday, and expressed his confidence that the Super Eagles will beat Tanzania though there is nothing at stake.

Balogun is aware that the players don’t have time on their hands before they are summoned again for a more important fixture, the World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October.

“I think I made my first debut in Nigeria at this stadium and so it is a special moment as well to come back,” said Leon Balogun.

“We are out of the AFCON and so it is a very good opportunity that we have to show some tactics to the organization on the field, I think that’s the focus we have for this game.

’I think we will win and have confidence for the next game in Zambia because we don’t have so much time to be together so we should give our all to get the best out of it.”

Born in West Berlin 28 years ago, Balogun’s first appearance for the Super Eagles was against Mexico in March 2014.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel