By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria defender Leon Balogun has hailed Rangers’ dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout win over Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 as a “special moment” for both the team and the fans.
Balogun, who played a pivotal role in the victory, reflected on the challenging match, acknowledging that Rangers had made things harder than necessary.
However, he credited his teammates for their resilience and collective effort.
“It was a tough match; we made it harder for ourselves than necessary,” Balogun stated.
“But we fought, stayed united, and showed great perseverance to see it through.”
The Nigerian international also lauded the atmosphere at Ibrox Stadium, where the support from the fans played a key role in motivating the players.
“Thursday nights at Ibrox are unforgettable. The fans give everything, and their energy is unmatched,” Balogun added.
In his post-match comments, Balogun dedicated the win to the loyal Rangers supporters, expressing gratitude for their unwavering backing despite the team’s challenges throughout the season.
“This victory is for the fans, who have stuck with us through thick and thin,” he concluded.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
