Super Eagles players maintain good form ahead of Black Stars showdown
Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, and Calvin Bassey were excellent for Rangers in the Scottish club’s 3-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade
Thursday night performances by the Super Eagles players invited for the all-important must-win Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup match against Black Stars gave confidence that our boys will beat the Black Stars to the World Cup ticket.
Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo, and Calvin Bassey were excellent for Rangers in the Scottish club’s 3-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade at the Ibrox Stadium in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round tie.
Balogun scored Rangers’ third of the night.
The Super Eagles defender rose to head home a well-delivered James Tavernier corner in the 51st minute.
It was the 33-year-old’s second goal in the competition, having bagged his maiden goal against Bröndby IF back in October.
While Balogun and Bassey lasted the duration of the match, Aribo, who received a booking for his troubles, left the field in the 75th minute..
After the match, Balogun said: “Tactical discipline and the flexibility to adjust is so important. We had a really good match plan and we executed it to a tee.
“For me, it’s all about preparation and in-game management. We did a little adjustment at halftime and even during the game.
“We always get instructions from the side and it’s just perfect teamwork in that sense and a great managerial job as well.
“I thought [the header] was looking good. I was a bit scared when the goalkeeper got there, but without sounding arrogant, I guess it was really good contact and the header was just too strong and I’m obviously really pleased that it went behind the line."
Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst praised Aribo for his resourcefulness, "Kamara played a different role, Joe played a different role today and I think before I came he also played in that role so I knew he was capable of doing that."The midfield was key today because we had to change sometimes our defensive shape."
Elsewhere, a late Kelechi Iheanacho goal gives Brendan Rodgers' side a two-goal advantage in Europa Conference League last-16. Iheanacho came in last minutes to secure Leicester’s slim lead with a wonderful goal.
