Why Folarin Balogun is called 'Flo' as a nickname for USMNT
Article excerpt
It's certainly a fun name for a great athlete.
Why Folarin Balogun is called 'Flo' as a nickname for USMNT originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Folarin Balogun has been all over the headlines lately after his World Cup red card suspension was overturned before the United States took on Belgium in the Round of 16.
Many of those stories refer to him as "Flo."
It's a nickname of sorts, a simple one.
It's also pretty cool, sounding like the word "flow," it's certainly a good name for a smooth athlete.
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Why is Folarin Balogun called 'Flo'?
There's really nothing complicated. While it switches the first two letters of his first name, it's more or less an easy, shortened version of his name.
Balogun apparently began being called "Flo" when he was in the academy at Arsenal.
It's actually not his preferred nickname, though.
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What's Folarin Balogun's preferred nickname?
Balogun would rather be called "Balo," the shortened version of his last name.
He told GOAL in a 2023 story that his U.S. teammates call him that, and in a Q&A published by U.S. Soccer, Balogun says he likes "Balo" better because it's closer to his real name.
Of course, calling him Balogun isn't bad, either. That's his name, and he's a rising star.
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