Aribo, Balogun, Bassey seek Europa glory

GLASGOW Rangers’ manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, named three Nigerian internationals in the team’s squad for tonight’s Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt. 

The showdown is scheduled to kick off at 8:00pm at the RamónSánchez Pizjuán Stadium, Seville, Spain.

Central defenders Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey, and attacking midfielder Joe Aribo were part of the Light Blues players who landed in Seville on Monday afternoon.

Balogun was the only Nigerian player given minutes asRangers completed their Premiership campaign with a 3-1 victory over Hearts at the weekend.

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Aribo and Bassey were rested for Saturday’s’ trip to Tynecastle Park, all but suggesting that they will return to the starting lineup against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The three Super Eagles stars are hoping to join a select group of Nigerian players who have won the competition since it was rebranded the Europa League namely John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses with Chelsea and Samuel Chukwueze with Villarreal last season.

Rangers are faced with a tough task when they face Eintracht Frankfurt as the Germans are unbeaten in this season’s Europa League.

Recall that Rangers will attempt to lift their first European title in 50 years as the Gers last won a European gongin 1972  [Cup Winners’ Cup].

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The Light Blues last played in a continental championship final in 2008 when they lost in the UEFA Cup.

Aribo’s Rangers eliminated Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig both of Germany as well as Portuguese side Braga, while Frankfurt will easily be remembered for eliminating European giants, Barcelona enroute to the final.