WCQ: Ghana’s match demands special character, says Nigeria defender Leon Balogun

Rangers defender, Leon Balogun, has revealed that Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Ghana requires special character from him and his teammates.

Balogun knows the importance of the ties to the people, but says he has to keep outside noise out of his thinking as he prepares for an eagerly-awaited 180 minutes.

He explained: “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.

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“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.