SUPER EAGLES SOAR AT IBROX
Nigeria coach on his Rangers duo
NIGERIA boss Gernot Rohr is delighted to see Super Eagles Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun flying high at Rangers and hopes it’s a springboard to international stardom.
The German has also told Calvin Bassey and incoming signing Nnamdi Ofoborh that they are in his sights and can join the Ibrox duo in his squad.
Former Charlton man Aribo and Balogun have been key figures for Steven Gerrard this season and, after helping Gers reach the Europa League last 16, can put them within touching distance of a 55th title when they face Livingston tomorrow.
Balogun stepped into the right-back role after James Tavernier was hurt in the first-leg win over Royal Antwerp and impressed in the victory over
Dundee United days later. But he was taken off at half-time of the return clash with the Beligans, Gerrard admitting afterwards he picked up a niggle.
The former Wigan man has played as a central defender at Ibrox but has shown his versatility and Rohr insists he won’t be fazed by filling Tavernier’s boots.
The Super Eagles boss first saw him play years ago in Germany and Rohr was delighted when Balogun moved to Rangers last year in an emergency move due to Niko Katic’s long-term injury.
It has proved to be a shrewd acquisition with the defender playing in high-profile European and domestic fixtures.
Rohr was already well aware of Berlin-born Balogun, who has a
German mother and Nigerian father, because of his time in Germany with Hannover, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Darmstadt and Mainz.
He made his international bow two years before Rohr took over Nigeria in 2014 but the Gers stopper played every minute of their three World Cup games under him at Russia 2018.
Rohr then handed Aribo his debut shortly after he moved to Ibrox and the midfielder made a scoring start with a goal in a friendly draw against Ukraine.
The pair could have written their names into Rangers folklore by the time they hook up for international duty again next month for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Benin and Lesotho.
And Rohr – who played for
Bordeaux in front of a bumper Ibrox crowd for Davie Cooper’s testimonial in 1988 – told Record Sport: “It would be great for our players Balogun and Aribo if Rangers won the title.
“We’ve been watching Rangers a lot and scouting all their games and there’s also Calvin Bassey and Nnamdi Ofoborh who is an U20 international. Both have Nigerian roots so the challenge is there for them to join Balogun and Aribo.
“It is great that they are getting so much exposure and success at a club the size of Rangers. As well as domestically, they’ve played at a very high level in Europe.
“I played a friendly in Glasgow with Bordeaux and it was a full house, even for a friendly game, so I have good memories.
“I’m delighted they are getting to experience that, although Leon
hasn’t yet had the chance to play in front of the fans.
“I have known Balogun for a very long time. He has a German mentality and has good speed which is very important for a central-defender or full-back as he can play both positions.
“There is no difference for Leon playing at right-back for Rangers just now because he’s played there before, for Nigeria and in Germany sometimes.
“He’s quick and intelligent and can change his position very quickly. For me, he’s strong enough to play either position. In the 2018 World Cup he played at the right of a three-man central defence so not quite a right back. “I watched him playing for Mainz before I joined Nigeria so I knew all about the boy. He speaks German so we have a good relationship. Leon has a very good character and self-confidence and I was happy when he moved to Glasgow Rangers because he didn’t play enough in England.
“He is one of the leaders in my group and I’m happy he has had success in European competition with Rangers. He is also one of my vice-captain. We have a young team in Nigeria and he is an experienced player which is vital.”
Balogun previously revealed he has been nominated as Nigeria’s unofficial squad spokesman with the fact he can speak German meaning he is the natural choice. And he isn’t scared to speak up and challenge former Bordeaux boss Rohr if he feels something isn’t right.
Balogun said: “I do challenge the coach sometimes, it helps that we both speak German.
“Sometimes, when the discussions are heated, the other players will say ‘This Balogun is crazy oh’, but it’s all for the good of the team and constructive.
“Other times players like Odion Ighalo might come to me and say ‘Balogun go and talk to your German father now’ when the players want to change or to try something.”
Aribo has been capped six times and Rohr said: “I’m very satisfied with Leon and Joe and particularly with the attitude of them both.
“Since I invited Joe Aribo to the squad we have had only good performances.”