Leon Balogun Accepts That He Was At Fault For Madagascar's First Goal Vs Super Eagles

Brighton & Hove defender Leon Balogun has admitted that he was the player to be blamed for the opening goal scored by Madagascar in their Africa Cup of Nations match against the Super Eagles on Sunday evening.

The Islanders were handed a gift by Balogun who fumbled with a pass from John Ogu before Nomenjanahary pounced and rounded Ikechukwu Ezenwa to break the deadlock after 12 minutes.

Few minutes after his error, the Nigeria number 6 almost made another defensive blunder after a short pass to Ezenwa but the goalkeeper was quick to clear the ball out of danger.

''I made one mistake that led to a goal. I think I defended everything I needed to defend, I know people will now only focus on that mistake,'' Balogun told reporters in the mixed zone.

''I didn't make that mistake on purpose, definitely it does not feel good but as I said it happens. Today was just a bad day for the whole team.''

Balogun was not in the Super Eagles team that posted a shutout vs Burundi in their AFCON opener but has started and gone the distance in their last two games after Gernot Rohr opted to rest the reliable Chelsea star Kenneth Omeruo against Madagascar.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel