The Super Eagles star says the 46-cap defender is at risk of not playing for Nigeria again following his recent snub

The chances of 36-year-old Rangers defender Leon Balogun returning to the Super Eagles are very slim following his recent snub from the squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda respectively, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Balogun has been active for Rangers in every game they have played so far this season but has yet to get a chance to return to the team he last played for two years ago when they defeated Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 in the AFCON qualifiers.

Former team manager Jose Peseiro ruled him out after that game, albeit largely due to his poor run of matches at club level during the manager’s tenure, which lasted around 22 months, before his departure in February after leading the team to a second-place finish at the AFCON.

As we exclusively reported, he was among the 35 players who were provisionally invited to the squad on a list prepared by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical director Austine Eguavoen.

Eguavoen, who also trimmed the squad to 23 players and passed it on to new coach Bruno Labbadia, left out Balogun, denying him the chance to add to his 46 caps for Nigeria’s senior team.

“I don’t think he (Balogun) will play for Nigeria again if he is not in the team now that he is playing regularly. As players in the team it is something we have talked about in the past because he makes us play the way we want to but it is up to the coach to decide and not us,” said a player in the team in a private conversation.