By Daily Sports on March 2, 2018
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West has urged current national team central defenders, William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun to develop a strong mentality, if they are to excel at the FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.
Leon Balogun Taribo who played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups said that modern day defending was more of mental attitude than strength and therefore the duo who he described as the backbone of the Super Eagles need to brush up. “I must commend both players- Balogun and Ekong for they have been doing a great job with the defence and we can all see the results. Before the Cameroon game, I was scared because of the physical strength of the Cameroonians but they showed great intelligence to mark them out,” Taribo said.
“During our time we had rugged defenders, but that is not the case today because we now have more defenders using their mental strengths than their physical strengths on the pitch.
“The game against Argentina exposed us a bit, but I’m sure the coaches will look into it and with our wealth of experience, I believe we can work as a team and help improve the team generally,” Taribo concluded.
The former Inter Milan defender was recently appointed into the NFF Technical Study Group saddled with the responsibility of collating, analyzing and putting at the disposal of the Federation, data and new thinking that can enhance the rapid development of the game in Nigeria.
•Photo shows Leon Balogun.
Source Daily Sports
Posted March 2, 2018
You may also like...
PSG spank Monaco to put pressure on Henry...
AFCON Title Is for Nigeria to Win if...
Mourinho Names Ronaldo De Lima As Greatest Player...
Rivers’re Winners Cup champions
Man City accept defeat Sanchez pursuit
Arsenal Trounce Tottenham As Resurgence Continues

Oshoba, Ibeabuchi, Esepo lead 2026 FGM award nominees
Why I cried after first goal in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria — Messi
Serena Williams suffered a straight-sets defeat in the Berlin Open doubles on Tuesday, hours after the confirmation of her return to Wimbledon to play alongside her older sister, Venus. Williams and Czech doubles partner Karolina Muchova fell to Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe, of New Zealand, 6-4, 6-4. The duo lost the opening set after Williams was broken in her second service game. They were broken on Muchova’s serve midway through the second set and failed to find a way back into the contest.
W’Cup Olise, Barcola shine as Mbappé double powers France past Senegal in 3-1 thriller
W’Cup: Olise, Barcola shine as Mbappé double powers France past Senegal in 3-1 thriller
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS: Nigerian-Born Stars Dazzle in the US, Canada and Mexico
depoju picks best World Cup moment June 16, 2026 4:18 am
Uruguay frustrated by dogged Saudi Arabia in World Cup draw
Iran begin fraught World Cup with 2-2 New Zealand draw
Nigeria ranks 2nd among W’Cup absentees
Ndidi gets Saudi option amid Besiktas uncertainty
Otu siblings advance at CBN Senior Tennis Champs
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,877 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,203 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,137 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,728 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,621 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,505 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,367 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,908 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,100 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,587 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,045 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,468 views)