Rangers trio slammed by Nigerian media after World Cup exit
Rangers players Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun were knocked out of World Cup qualifying yesterday for their native Nigeria.
The away goals rule meant that Ghana booked their place at Qatar 2022 after a 1-1 draw and the Nigerian media did not hold back on the Light Blues trio.
Pulse Nigeria were particularly critical in their player ratings after the game with Balogun receiving the highest rating of the three with a 4/10.
On Aribo, they wrote: “On a bumpy, uneven surface, Aribo looked leggy and inconsequential. Simply could not create separation from his marker at any point, and when he did receive in space his touch was heavy.”
Meanwhile, Bassey, who made his first start for the Super Eagles, had some sympathy from Pulse Nigeria who said: “Difficult game to make a first start in for Bassey, who was the target of rotational fouling by Ghana and made a positioning error in the first half.
“Combined well in spells in that opening period though, when all that Nigeria did well came down the left.”
Move past it
Missing out on going to the World Cup on away goals is such a heart-wrenching way to bow out, especially as Nigeria didn’t lose either leg of the African playoff.
Aribo, Balogun and Bassey will all be hurting badly when they arrive back in Glasgow to prepare for Sunday’s Old firm derby but they must move past the heartbreak.
Sunday’s game is the biggest of the season for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side and he cannot afford anyone who has their mind focused on anything other than victory at Ibrox.
If any of them have even an ounce of regret in them when they return to training with the Light Blues, then the boss has to be strong enough to drop them no matter how crucial they are to his plans.
Things must be clear ahead of an Old Firm derby and the Nigerian trio need to get the disappointment out of their system if they want to have an impact on Rangers’ season.
In other Rangers news, a former FIFA referee has sent a major warning to both Rangers and Celtic ahead of this weekend’s Old Firm derby.