interim boss Barry Ferguson confirmed that he is now back in training.

Balogun hasn’t been capped for his country since June 2022

A potential Nigeria recall for Rangers star Leon Balogun has sparked intrigue in the African nation – with differing reports as to whether the veteran defender will ever get the chance to pull on the Super Eagles shirt again.

The 36-year-old won the last of his 46 caps for his country back in 2022, having previously represented Nigeria at the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and at the Africa Cup of Nations in the following year. Balogun has been on the sidelines for Rangers since picking up an injury in their Europa League defeat to Manchester United last month in Philippe Clement’s final few weeks in the job, but is pushing for a return to action after interim boss Barry Ferguson confirmed that he is now back in training.

And there are conflicting reports coming from Nigeria over the centre back’s supposed inclusion for the Super Eagles World Cup qualifying double header against Rwanda and Zimbabwe next month. Head coach Eric Chelle’s side are in danger of missing out on the finals in North America in 13 months time, having picked up just three points from their first four games in Group C.

According to OwnGoalNigeria.com, Balogun has been identified as a potential replacement in the squad for West Brom star Semi Ajayi, who has been ruled out of the coming international break with a hamstring problem. However, a differing source claims that boss Chelle has not considered handing a recall to the former Brighton and Queens Park Rangers man at all, and that at 36, his changes of representing Nigeria again are very slim, in part due to his recurring injury problems since returning to Ibrox in the summer of 2023.

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