NFF grant permission to Rangers for Nigerian trio to face Celtic pre-AFCON

Published: December 17, 2021

Glasgow Rangers have received green light from the Nigeria Football Federation to delay the arrival of their Nigerian players for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

While Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun are guaranteed roster spots for the tournament in Cameroon barring an injury, a third foreign-born player of Nigerian descent on the books of Rangers in Calvin Bassey is knocking on the door following his recent impressive displays for the Scottish champions.

The Super Eagles are due to start a training camp after Christmas but the aforementioned players won't be reporting for international duty until after the Old Firm derby on January 2, nine days before Nigeria's first group game against Egypt.

Balogun is in a race against the clock to be in tip-top condition before the AFCON and the derby against Celtic, having missed the last seven matches contested by Rangers in all competitions.

At Friday's pre-match press conference, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was asked whether the three Nigerian players have been cleared to face Celtic and the Rangers boss responded : "They will be here with the team one hundred percent.

"For me it was already clear that we will release them if needed after the Old Firm game so we have the full squad until we go into the winter break."

Should Nigeria go all the way and reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, Aribo and Balogun will not be available for selection for four Rangers matches including the league game with Hearts on February 5.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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