More appearances than any other player in 2021-2022 : Aribo admits season full of ups and downs

Joe Aribo has admitted that there were a number of ups and downs along the way in what was a grueling season for the Glasgow Rangers star.

Aribo tasted cup glory with the Light Blues, helping them win the Scottish Cup last month but suffered the disappointment of failing to retain the Premiership and losing the Europa League final to Eintracht Frankfurt.

And on the international stage, the 25-year-old was part of the Super Eagles team that crashed out of the 2021 AFCON in the round of 16, before missing out on World Cup qualification.

On a personal level, another highlight of his season was when he became only the second Nigerian player to score in the final of a European competition after ex-Gunner Alex Iwobi.

Aribo's season officially came to an end on Monday afternoon in Morocco, with the number 10 watching proceedings from the bench as the Super Eagles demolished  Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Manager Jose Peseiro thought it wise to leave him out of the starting lineup for the first time in the midfielder's international career after being overused by club and country over the course of the season.

Since the beginning of the 2021-2022 campaign, Aribo played 70 matches for club and country, more than any other player in the world, the statisticians at Transfermarkt have claimed.

Reflecting on his season, Aribo posted on Twitter : "Grateful to have played 70 games this season, I just wanna thank God for getting me through it.

"A season full of ups and downs but unforgettable memories were created. Can’t wait to get going next season thank you to all the fans for your continued support."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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