Gers plea to Nigeria over stars
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RANGERS are confident of striking a deal with Nigeria that ensures Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey can play in the New Year Old Firm blockbuster.
The Ibrox trio will almost certainly be called up by their country for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon at the turn of the year.
FIFA rules state players should be released from their clubs on December 27 for the tournament, which kicks off on January 9.
That would potentially rule Balogun, Aribo and Bassey out of the crunch fixture at Celtic Park on January 2.
But Rangers are confident of successfully negotiating with the Nigerian FA and German boss Gernot Rohr for the players to report for duty after the Celtic clash.
Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard and sporting director Ross Wilson have an excellent working relationship with Rohr and the Nigerians and they’re desperate to have their players available for the trip to Glasgow’s east end.
Balogun and Aribo, in particular, are key men for Gerrard’s champions while full-back Bassey is a valuable squad member.
Top Premier League clubs in England will attempt to do likewise with African nations in a bid to keep their players a few days longer before they set off for Cameroon.
Liverpool will lose superstar strikers Mo Salah and Sadio Mane to Egypt and Senegal respectively for the 2021 tournament, which was moved from the summer to early 2022.
Jurgen Klopp’s side face title rivals Chelsea on the same day as the Old Firm game in Glasgow so will look to strike a similar deal.
Due to the winter break, Rangers’ next game after Celtic is a Scottish Cup tie on January 22.
Depending on how far Nigeria go, Balogun, Aribo and Bassey could miss that tie as well as league games against Livingston, Ross County and Hearts.