Rangers trio Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo won’t be going to the World Cup in Qatar after Nigeria were defeated by Ghana in a playoff.
The Black Stars qualified on away goals after a 1-1 draw in Nigeria which followed on from a 0-0 draw in Accra earlier in the week.
Tomas Partey had put the visitors in front after 10 minutes before William Troost-Ekong equalised from the penalty spot.
All three Rangers players played in the game and the result comes as a bitter disappointment to a football mad nation that demands a lot of their players.
So much so, that the three Rangers stars involved had to shelter in the dressing room after the game alongside their Super Eagles teammates as fans invaded the pitch.
However, scenes turned ugly when advertising board were smashed up, dugouts damaged and eventually tear gas deployed to clear the crowd in Abuja.
Sadly, Ghana doctor Dr Joseph Kabungo also passed away after the game.
Rangers Nigeria trio sent crashing from World Cup
It was a tumultuous evening in the Nigerian capital and the Rangers players will now have to put the situation to the back of their minds ahead of a tough match against Celtic this weekend.
A must-win for the Ibrox club, all three players could be involved in some capacity and will need to come up big for the club this weekend.
Leon Balogun could partner Connor Goodson in defence, whilst Calvin Bassey currently has the left-back shirt amid a drop in form from Borna Barisic.
Joe Aribo – the club’s best player in the first half of the season – has not been himself on the pitch as of late and it remains to be seen if Giovanni van Bronckhorst will start the Nigeria star.
But whilst Nigeria and their fans are licking their wounds, the Rangers trio can take some solace in the fact they’ll be available for a currently scheduled controversial friendly with Celtic.
Set to take place during the World Cup, the Sydney Old Firm clash has been lambasted by fans but as things stand, it’s set to take place in October.
Provided Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo are still at Ibrox next season, then there’s every chance they could be involved if the friendly doesn’t get canned.
They’ll also be joined by one other Rangers international, who also tasted bitter disappointment in a World Cup Playoff this week.
