Leon Balogun Compares Pressure at Rangers to Nigerian National Team Experience

Defender Leon Balogun asserts that the demands of playing for the Nigerian national team are akin to the expectations faced when performing for Rangers, despite potential perceptions of dissimilarity between the two. The centre-back draws a parallel between the pressure of representing the Super Eagles and playing before the Ibrox crowd. On Sunday, Rangers experienced audible dissatisfaction from the Ibrox crowd, even after securing a 1-0 league victory against Hearts. This followed their previous domestic fixture, a League Cup semi-final win against Motherwell, during which the team was booed by supporters at half-time. Balogun stated, “Playing for the Nigerian national team actually prepared me, because believe me or not, they probably have just as much expectation as our supporters.” He further elaborated, “Let me put one out there. I was at Rangers at the time and we played against Sierra Leone. We were winning 4-1 – good for me as I came off after 60 minutes – and we ended the game 4-4.” He continued, “And on the way back to the hotel, some of the security stuff said, ‘don’t sit next to the windows’.” Balogun added, “Some players closed the curtains and then five minutes into the drive, you turn the corner and they threw stones at the bus, our own fans. So I guess that kind of prepared me.” While Rangers supporters have not resorted to throwing objects at the team’s vehicle, their dissatisfaction stems from the team’s initial performance this season, leaving them trailing Aberdeen and Celtic by nine points. Balogun remarked, “It’s my fourth season at the club, I know what it can be like, and you just have to get on with it to be very honest, there are moments probably where you think, ‘OK, that’s a bit unreasonable’, but it’s just the club.” He further stated, “You have to put that weight on your shoulders as soon as you put on the shirt and deal with it. And obviously it can have an impact every now and then, or sometimes for some players more than others, especially if they’re a bit younger, if they’re not used to it. But like I said, you have to get on with it.”