Ex-Nigeria Star Sodje : Troost-Ekong, Balogun Not Super Eagles Best Central Defenders, Need Game Time

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje believes that the duo of Williams Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun are not Nigeria's best central defensive options but has also backed the pair to continue their impressive performances for Nigeria.

The onetime West Brom and Charlton Athletic defender who had four caps for Nigeria bared his mind to allnigeriasoccer.com as he spoke on the players' contributions to clubs (Udinese, Italy and Brighton and Hove, England) so far this season.

"I am happy Troost is getting game time at Udinese in the Serie A and you can see he is improving compared to when he first burst into the Eagles team.

"And from what I notice watching him in  the last couple of games, I can tell he's being coached on how to defend properly at his club because I know for sure it's not from the national team," Sodje sensationally stated on Monday.

"Balogun on the other hand I feel can be a very good player but with him not getting game times at Brighton and knowing he's not a naturally blessed football/defender, the more he doesn't get game time at Brighton, that will be very bad for him and Nigeria - though I know he will be getting coached on how to defend properly at his club.

"But my opinion is definitely that Troost and Balogun are not the best central defenders Nigeria can offer but they are the ones with the shirts right now so I am their fan and will support them," Sodje who once had a stint in the Greek Super League further told allnigeriasoccer.com from his London base.

Sodje however was mom on the identity of the players he feels can do better jobs than the pair affectionately called 'The Oyibo Wall'  by football faithful in Nigeria.

"Oh no, it's unfair for me to mention names. I am with the two (Ekong and Balogun) that have the shirts right now. I wish them luck," Sodje, who is bereaved and will be in Nigeria early December for the funeral rites of his mother concluded.

Izuchukwu Okosi