Super Eagles midfielder Aribo reveals why he's not getting game time at Southampton 

Joe Aribo has struggled lately at club level, with several Super Eagles and Southampton fans wondering why he's not getting game time. 

The former Rangers man has admitted that he's out of favour at the St. Mary's Stadium due to a coaching decision and nothing to do with injury. 

Since the start of the year, the Super Eagles number 10 has logged 37 minutes from a possible 990 in the Premier League. 

However, he played in every single game played by Southampton in the Emirates FA Cup before they were knocked out of the competition and got some minutes in the away leg of their Carabao Cup meeting with Newcastle United, bringing his total minutes to 250 in 2023.

Nigeria manager Jose Peseiro has kept faith with the versatile midfielder by naming him in a 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau. 
 

"It is the coach's decision. I think every single coach has his own opinion on things. For me I'm not really too fazed because it's processes. I just need to be patient and just wait on God's timing which is perfect," Aribo said to Elegbete TV Sports.

Aribo was one of the first names on the team sheet during his time at Glasgow Rangers and now he has turned into a bit-part player for his current club, waiting to know whether he will start or not. 

"Of course, it is difficult. For any normal human it will be difficult. I don't let that affect me too much. 

"I'm pretty strong-minded so how I deal with disappointment I kind of use it to charge me and just trying to improve the best that I can."

Aribo has played as a second striker, has also played from the wide areas pulling out crosses and can also orchestrate play from the midfield.

On his favorite position on the field, he replied : "For me I'd say it's as a box-to-box midfielder, so I'm up and down the pitch."

Aribo was an unused substitute as Nigeria were beaten 1-0 by Guinea-Bissau in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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