Can Messi Be Stopped? Leon Balogun Reveals Steps Super Eagles Will Take

Published: May 18, 2018

Mainz central defender Leon Balogun has revealed the steps the Super Eagles will take to prevent Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi from scoring when they face off with Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.

The Argentina number ten has been directly involved in six goals (4 goals, 2 assists) in five appearances against the Nigerian national teams in the past and Balogun's main task on June 26 is to stop the striker from scoring but has admitted that he will need help from his teammates.

''As a team, we have to put an end to Messi's Argentinian game, and if the ball goes to Messi, we'll have to win the duels and hurt them, of course, within a legal framework,'' Balogun told Allgemeine Zeitung.

Balogun is optimistic that the Super Eagles will qualify for the last sixteen of the World Cup and how they perform in their fourth match will depend on the form of the players.

''We want to survive the group phase, and best of all first. How far we go in the knockout phase depends on our form that day,'' explained Balogun who is a Berliner.

''In the games, 180 million people sit in front of television in Nigeria alone.

''Two hearts are beating in me, one German and one Nigerian, and both pretty loud.''

If Balogun is declared fit by Super Eagles medics, he is expected to partner William Troost-Ekong in central defense at the tournament in Russia, with Abdullahi Shehu and Brian Idowu tipped to fill the fullback spots.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel