The game against Ghana is big says Nigerian defender Leon Balogun

Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Ghana, according to Nigerian defender Leon Balogun, is an important game.

Balogun understands the significance of his connections to the people, but he says he needs to keep external noise out of his head as he prepares for a highly anticipated minute of football.

“These kinds of derbies are big and they demand a special kind of character.

“I think that I can bring that and I do not need to voice it in any way outside of the pitch because you have to speak for yourself with the team for your country.

“I try to leave the rivalry pretty much aside without saying that I don’t respect it.

“For me personally and my preparations for the game, it doesn’t matter too much because it is about where do I want to go with the team? That is the World Cup.

“It happens we play against Ghana, so yes there is that rivalry. I know there is huge importance to that outside of football and also within football with the fans and everything,” he concluded.