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Mainz 05 and Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun
Mainz 05 and Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun will miss the World Cup qualifier against Zambia next month after straining his adductor muscle in the early minutes of the defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Scans revealed that there is no tear so no operation is needed and the club are hopeful he will return after the international break.
“I’m all good apart from that injury. It’s very unlucky…the timing as well as how it happened” the big defender tells supersport.com exclusively.This is a huge blow for club and country as Balogun 28 has become a lynch pin of both defences. In his absence at the weekend, Mainz 05 proceeded to concede three goals in the 2-3 home defeat.
“My debut in the Euro League is put on hold again and the big game against Wolfsburg” Balogun continues.
For the super eagles in a tough world cup qualifying group he was expected to lead a defence in the vital group opener in Zambia. And Balogun had been looking forward to these qualifiers since he missed out on Brazil through injury.
“I’m going to miss another very important game on our road to Russia 2018. Which is kind of sad. But I can’t change it so there’s no time to hang my head”.
The Berlin born defender is not too downbeat “I’m glad that it is “just” muscular so I’m certain to be back in action real soon. I have full medical support from my club with therapy twice a day to make sure I’m fit earliest possible”
Beyond that he would be glad for an injury free rest of the season on his return. Both Mainz 05 and the Super Eagles technical crew will wish him same.