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It was a night of different strokes for different Nigerian players in continental club action, as Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi got injured in action with Leicester City of England, but Joe Aribo shook of fitness fears to feature in an away victory for Glasgow Rangers of Scotland.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, on a night results tumbled in varying form for Nigeria’s foreign legion, Aribo justified his inclusion in The Gers’ squad, despite copping a nasty-looking injury last weekend.
Conversely, while Super Eagles’ interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen would be excited seeing Aribo line out against Red Star Belgrade, he would surely wince in trepidation, as Ndidi limped off in The Foxes’ 2-1 loss away to Stade Rennes of France in the UEFA Conference League.
It was a double blow for Ndidi in the round of 16 fixture on Thursday night at Roazhon Park, as Leicester lost by the odd goal, but they won 3-2 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals, after winning the first leg 2-0 at home.
Ndidi started in midfield, while Kelechi Iheanacho continued to lead the attack in the absence of injured Jamie Vardy, but he was replaced in the 60th minute, while Ademola Lookman got off the bench in the 12th minute.
Leicester equalised six minutes into the second half, with Ndidi heavily involved in the move, but Rennes restored their two-goal advantage through Seyrou Gourassy on 75 minutes
Lookman was replaced by Ricardo Perreira with 11 minutes left on the clock, following which Rennes had two late penalty calls overlooked, after Jannick Vestergaard and Kiernan Deswbury-Hall both handled the ball accidental.
In Belgrade, Aribo went straight in Rangers’ starting 11 for their away fixture and, though they fell 2-1 loss at Stadion Rajko Mitic, they romped into the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.
In the doing so, the Scottish Premiership champions made the best of a three-goal advantage from the first leg at Ibrox Stadium a week ago, with Aribo joined by Leon Aderemi Balogun and Calvin Bassey Ughegbulam in edging out of Ohi Omoijuanfo’s Belgrade-based team 4-2 on aggregate.
All three named in Eguavoen’s squad to face Ghana next Friday started in the Serbian capital, where Rangers fell behind in the tenth minute when the unmarked Mirko Ivanic slammed a half volley past goalkeeper McGregor.
The home team had chances to increase the lead before half time, but they were not clinical enough and, four minutes into the second half, Omoijuanfo looked for Pavkov after going past Bassey but the ball rolled out of danger.
With Aribo close to a suspension, he was replaced in the 68th minute and he will be available for the quarterfinals, while Red Star Belgrade got a small consolation of winning the second leg when Ben Nabouhane scored from the spot in stoppage time.
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