Glasgow Rangers of Scotland midfielder, Joe Aribo has declared emphatically that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, as he believes they will maintain their momentum in the qualification series, megasportsarena.com reports.
Aribo added that he was happy being part of the Eagles’ in the matches and victories against Benin Republic and Lesotho, which were his first two competitive games for Nigeria, and he is now optimistic of better results coming ahead.
He stated further during Mega Sports on Star 101.5 FM, Lagos that he is equally happy that his decision to commit his international future to Nigeria is paying off, as he has two goals to his name in four matches and the team is doing well within the short time he has been with them.
Two draws in international friendlies against Ukraine and Brazil were followed victories over Benin Republic and Lesotho in the AFCON 2021 qualifiers, which Aribo says are all signs that the Nigerian squad are on course for better days to come and he hopes to make greater marks along the line from his involvements with the Eagles, on both personal and collective levels.
Aribo also pointed out his coach in the Scottish Premiership club, Steven Gerrard as his number one mentor of the moment, as he is gaining lots of inspiration and motivation from the former battling midfielder.
Although he is only in his first season with The Gers, after arriving this summer from Charlton Athletic, Aribo has already settled down will at Ibrox, and says the affection he receives from Gerrard has made it possible.
With that in mind, Aribo will not hesitate to pinpoint the former Liverpool and England star as his main motivator and guide, as he continues taking giant strides in his career.
Those strides have seen him net two goals in only four matches for the Eagles, but the lad from Ondo State says he already feels highly welcome at the new environments he is enjoying with club and country.
He already has five goals in 26 appearances for Rangers across all competitions and four assists to boot, for which he is thanking Gerrard for the influential role the ex-player continues playing in shaping his fledgling his career.
Indeed, it was Gerrard that convinced Aribo to join Rangers, and snub widespread interest from clubs in the English Championship and central Europe, such that the soft-spoken lad is now out with a grateful verdict in naming the gaffer as his main mentor to boost his career.
The 23-year-old box-to-box midfielder also spoke on his decision to accept playing for Nigeria, rather than stick out for an international future with England, saying it was mostly about the love of donning the colours of his father’s country, and he has nothing to rue in that decision.
Although the 23-year-old former Charlton Athletic sensation admitted it is a big challenge for him to wear Nigeria’s number 10 jersey vacated by the immediate past captain, John Mikel Obi, Aribo enthused that the team’s united spirit and his own determination to succeed with the squad will spur him into making his impact felt in all subsequent matches he is involved in.
Aribo concluded: I am happy that we started well in the qualifiers. We’ve won our first two matches, and now we have to keep the momentum going. I am also happy that I am part of this team and I believe we will qualify.
“It’s a big challenge for me to take the number 10 jersey and it’s a challenge I’m willing to take. I intend to do what they as number 10 have done in the past. I just want to be able to show what I can do in a game. There is so much love there and you receive so much love so that’s one thing that drove me to wanting to play for Nigeria. It is the love of playing for your home nation.”
