'I've heard jollof battle' - Balogun admits he has the character to do well in big clash vs Ghana

Rangers star Leon Balogun has revealed that he has the character to perform at his best when Nigeria face off with regional rivals Ghana in the 2022 World Cup playoff.

At club level, the experienced center back has demonstrated that he is not overwhelmed by big matches having played against top European teams such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, Manchester United and Arsenal in his career.

The rivalry between Nigerian and Ghana has created a sense of anticipation among both fans who are eagerly looking forward to the double header, with some labeling the match 'the jollof war'.

Heading into the fixture, Balogun has made it clear he's not too concerned about the rivalry that exists between the Super Eagles and Black Stars, saying his main objective is to help the Super Eagles qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

The 33-year-old has come back to the fold after pulling out of the Nigeria squad to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations due to a back issue, and everything indicates that he will be named in the starting lineup vs Ghana on Friday.

Speaking to NFF TV, Balogun said : "I try to leave the rivalry pretty much aside without saying that I don't respect it.

"For me personally, in my preparation for the game it doesn't matter too much because for me it's about where do I want to go with the team and that's the World Cup.

"It happens that we play against Ghana. Yes there is that rivalry, I know that there's huge importance outside of football to that but also within football, obviously with the fans and everything but I would try to leave that to them and try to do my best, and to do my work on the pitch.

"These kind of derbies they are big, demand a special kind of character and I think I do have that, that I can bring, but I do not need to voice it in any type of way outside of the pitch because that's where ultimately you have to find the right answers, you have to speak for yourself with your team for the country."

The Super Eagles number 6 continued : "Obviously I've heard a few names, jollof battle, all these kind of things.

"It's part of it and I embrace it but I don't entertain that really. I leave that to the people who come up with it and focus on football."

With the exception of the away game against Cape Verde, Balogun started all the matches contested by the Super Eagles in the second round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel