The exposure being gained by the duo of Calvin Bassey and Nnamdi Ofoborh at Glasgow Rangers of Scotland has set bolts of excitement rolling through the veins of Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr, as he believes both youngsters will soon be available for invitations to his team.
Megasportsaena.com reports that the Franco-German football tactician took another look at recent reports indicating that Bassey and Ofoborh and ready to commit their international futures to Nigeria, which Rohr believes would be good for the players and the country.
This is based mostly on the fact that two other Rangers’ players, Joe Aribo and Leon Aderemi Balogun are already regulars in the Eagles, and Rohr believes having all four of them coming from the same club could be a huge boost in terms of camaraderie.
The former Girondins-Bordeaux, Niger Republic, Gabon and Burkina Faso gaffer also confirmed that he is keeping tabs on left-back Bassey and winger Ofoborh, who is on loan from Bournemouth of England but recently signed a pre-contract with The Gers.
Bassey, who has also played for the youth teams of Leicester City, was an unused substitute when Rangers defeated Royal Antwerp of Belgium 9-5 on aggregate to advance to the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League last Thursday, is ready to play for Nigeria, despite also being eligible to star for England and Italy.
Ofoborh is provisionally cap-tied to Nigeria after playing for the Flying Eagles at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup and could make the step up to the Super Eagles if he impresses at Rangers as from next season.
Aribo has emerged as a key player for Nigeria since shining on his debut against Ukraine then scored against Brazil in the next game and started all matches in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
On the other hand, Balogun is one of the senior players in the Eagles’ current squad which he first played for seven years ago, and Rohr admitted he is already expecting similar if not better impacts with the Nigerian national team from Bassey and Ofoborh.
Rohr told Daily Record: “It would be great for our players – Balogun and Aribo – if Rangers won the title. We have been watching Rangers a lot and scouting all their games and there’s also Calvin Bassey and Nnamdi Ofoborh who is an under-20 international.
“Both have Nigerian roots, so the challenge is there for them to join them. It is great that they are getting so much exposure and success at a club the size of Rangers and, as well as domestically, they have played at a very high level in Europe.”
