AFCON 2021: Rohr confirms talks with Glasgow Rangers to delay release of Aribo, Balogun

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has confirmed that he is in contact with Scottish Premiership champions Glasgow Rangers over delaying the release of Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun to the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Allnigeriasoccer.com suggested three days ago that a third Rangers player in Calvin Bassey was not guaranteed a roster spot and the latest Nigeria squad announced on Monday more or less confirms that the Leicester City academy product has dropped down the pecking order following his omission.

Rohr revealed that all the players named on the finalized roster for the AFCON must report for international duty on or before January 1, ten days before their opening match against Egypt.

Rangers are looking to strike a deal with the Nigerian Federation that would see Aribo and Balogun delay their trip to Africa until after the Old Firm derby against Celtic on January 2.

"We need a good preparation, we need the players at least ten days before but like you know in England they play," Rohr said to Elegbete TV Sports.

"Somebody called me from Glasgow already they have the derby Glasgow Rangers vs Celtic on the second or third of January if we can let the players play.

"We have a lot of problems to prepare the team but I think we will have most of our players at least ten days before."

Balogun and Aribo are key players for Rangers, starting the last six games contested by the club in the Premiership.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel