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Folarin Balogun

United States striker of Nigerian descent Folarin Balogun has issued a heartfelt apology to national team supporters following their humbling exit from the 2026 World Cup.

The Monaco forward started the match for the tournament co hosts but could not prevent the European giants from ending the American dream in a heavy 4 to 1 Round of 16 defeat to Belgium.

Balogun found himself at the center of a global firestorm just days before the knockout clash. During a previous group stage game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the striker received a straight red card.

However, an extraordinary intervention involving Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino led the governing body to unexpectedly suspend his one match ban. This unprecedented move left the Belgian Football Association and the wider football world in total disbelief.

Taking to social media, the forward expressed the deep pain of the exit and took full responsibility for the team performance.

READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns Former Port Harcourt Refinery Boss Over ₦1.32bn Fraud

“My debut World Cup. It hurts to wait four years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer. I want to say sorry to our fans, it was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down.

“Soccer in America will only become bigger, the belief, the talent, and the passion is continually growing and I know the best days are in front of us, the future belongs to those who never stop believing, this moment will fuel us. We will be back. Why not us? For the nation. For the flag,” the striker said.

Reflecting on the loud noise and drama surrounding his overturned suspension, Balogun stated he was not surprised by the public reaction and the backlash from the football community.

“When you’re given a red card, usually the protocol is you don’t play in the following game. Then, when that decision’s overturned, of course, it’s going to be controversial. So it didn’t really surprise me too much. But as a player my job is just to go out there and focus on my job.

“And I’m disappointed we weren’t able to win today. I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, and then I also accepted the decision when I was told I could play. There’s not too much else I can really say on the on the matter. All that being said, Belgium were the better team today. They played much better than us,” he added.

With his World Cup campaign officially over, Balogun will now turn his attention back to club football. Several transfer speculations have already started linking the talented forward with a potential move away from Monaco ahead of the new season.

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Folarin Balogun
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