Algeria vs Nigeria: Aribo withdrew to avoid burnout
The 25-year-old has had a busy start to life under Ralph Hasenhuttl, making seven appearances in the Premier League with one goal so far.
Super Eagles and Southampton playmaker Joe Aribo has made the decision to withdraw from representing Nigeria against Algeria in an international friendly match on Friday because of the effects of the previous mammoth season when he played over 80 games in all competitions.
The ex-Rangers star made a big-money move to the English Premier League in the summer with Southampton, after he did not sign an extension at Ibrox over the course of the transfer window.
Aribo was prized away from Glasgow with reports linking him to England's top flight for some time, including a potential reunion with former boss Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa, but the Nigerian eventually settled on the south coast.
The 25-year-old has had a busy start to life under Ralph Hasenhuttl, making seven appearances in the Premier League with one goal so far. The attacker was commended, however, for making a mammoth 80 appearances for club and country last season amid being influential to Rangers' journey to the Europa League final.
But it appears that his game glut in the last campaign may have caught up with him, as the Super Eagles confirmed Aribo asked to be left out of a friendly game with Algeria due to needing a rest period.
A Super Eagles official said: “Aribo is very much part of Jose Peseiro’s plans. He was not dropped for the matches against Algeria because the player asked to be excused for him to take some rest after his recent transfer to the Premier League in England.”
